This stunning design comes from an embroidered bedsheet from the island of Lefkada where it is speculated that the palace of Odysseus—hero of Homer’s Odyssey—was located. Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, was famous for her skill with the needle and it is delightful to imagine her working this beautiful pattern inspired by her garden.
The pattern features sprays of tulips and carnations upon which small doves perch. Outlined by a tiny checkerboard along with a graceful pomegranate and flower border, it is a design that epitomizes the height of Mediterranean folk embroidery. Worked in the traditional palette of red, blue, green, gold, and black, this embroidery will delight the dedicated stitcher and become a treasured family heirloom. I'm offering two fabric options--30ct Mikini 100% mercerized cotton in white OR 32ct Greek 100% linen in Porcelain (white). 
 
Finished size (exclusive of hem): 23 x 23” on 30 ct fabric/21.5 x 21.5” on 32ct fabric
*Please note: finished size can vary slightly due to uneven nature of traditional evenweave fabrics
345 x 345 sts/35746 total sts
 
My high quality kits come with everything you need to make the embroidery in the photos--either 30ct Mikini white OR 30ct Porcelain Greek linen, DMC floss, full color SOC (symbol-on-chart) pattern, along with a John James size 24 tapestry needle. The raw edges of the fabric are serged for your convenience, so you can start stitching as soon as you open the kit!
 
Also available as a download pattern
 
Mikini version beautifully stitched by Maria Armstrong
Linen version beautifully stitched by Cindy Russell (please note that the linen photos show brown floss instead of black and an additional checkerboard border; the kit version has black floss and the pattern does not have the additional checkerboard border)