Pet of the month

We know you're huge fans of pets, so have us design a cross stitch of a beloved animal!

Design my pet!

Q Please will you design a chart of my pet hamster? Hannah Bishop, via email

A Durene says: Certainly, Hannah, here is your hamster! How could anyone resist this sweetie, enjoying a cuppa? Have fun capturing your pet in stitches and thank you for sending in such a great photo! The brown fur contrasts well with the mug's pretty colours, so you'll have plenty of nice thread shades to work with. For more of my designs go to www.DureneJ Cross Stitch.etsy.com

Fun facts about Hamsters

• Hamsters' big cheeks act as store cupboards and can hold up to their own bodyweight in food! Their cheeks fill with air when hamsters want to stay afloat in water.

• Male and female hamsters are polygynandrous, they have multiple mates. The females are very territorial and kick out the males once mating is over!