I really wanted to get the Prime Day discount for using my Amazon Rewards Visa, but I got to a point while shopping where there wasn't anything else I *needed* so I allowed myself to add this counted cross stitch kit to my cart (I have the Parrot Tulips one -- I'd had my eye on it for awhile). I am a fan of Dimensions cross stitch kits going back nearly 20 years and the Gold Collection ones are some of my favorites. They are some of the pricier kits, though, and they always feel like such an indulgence to buy so I don't often do so. Realistically, I am not going to finish this for a very long time since I only get a few hours a week to work on it. (I started with the ivory color, so I have part of the vase done thus far.) As with most cross stitch and close-up craft work, I am using a lighted magnifier and it is a total eye-saver. This does not have the smallest print I've ever seen on a cross stitch kit, but if you are at all familiar with cross stitch, you are likely at least somewhat familiar with eye strain... Anyway, I love the design. It will go wonderfully in my house (one day...) and I think it is quite tasteful. The materials are high quality, as always. The fabric is an ivory/off-white/beige aida or evenweave (I believe it is 18 count, don't have the kit with me right now, but definitely a smaller square than 14 count!). If you are worried about frayed edges, line the edges of the fabric in masking tape before starting (though I have not had a problem yet). I am using a hoop for stitching to make it portable and lightweight and that is working well. The pattern is printed in cyan, magenta, and black on two sheets of paper (half on each sheet). There are some instructions as well, as there always are with cross stitch kits, but I'll be honest -- I didn't read them. If you are an experienced stitcher, you won't need them, and if you are a newbie, you'd be better off starting with a few smaller projects to see if this is even a hobby you'd like. The symbols are easy to distinguish and I haven't noticed any typos. The thread comes pre-sorted and identified. This makes me happy. I can't tell you how frustrated I used to get when I was faced with kits in the past, trying to decide the difference between "dusty rose," "light dusty rose," "pale rose," "pink," etc. That problem is taken away here. You may still want to use a different floss organizer, but at least the sorting is taken care of. It is easy to match the floss to the symbols. Most of the stitches are worked with two strands, but the ivory is worked with three strands. You also get TWO needles here, not just one. There is a bit (OK, a lot) of gold filament here, as well. The gold thread is not my favorite stuff to work with, but it does make the end result really nice (and not gaudy). In the end, this will keep me occupied for a long time and I find the quality of the materials to be quite nice. The chart is easy to follow and I like the touch of the extra needle and the pre-sorted floss. Definitely glad I picked this up.
