I have a teenage brother who is really into being ‘cool’, playing computer games and acting aloof. It can be tricky thinking of birthday presents for him.

So this was the great idea – combine my new favourite hobby, cross stitch, with his latest craze for the computer game Minecraft. But there is no way that a moody teenager would appreciate a handmade cross stitch, right?

 

Wrong, he loved it. You should have seen his face when he opened it – his grin was from ear to ear. I even later heard him telling his other computer nerd friends about it while playing Minecraft. Who knew that cross-stitch could appeal to a teenage boy? Though I doubt I’ll be teaching him the basic stitches just yet.

 

 

Here it is with another cross stitch I made for my step-mum. When my 8 year old brother asked her what it meant she said, “it means I love you.”