Nancy L. Haydon

If you ask people to name their favourite flowers, it is likely that they will place roses high on their lists. Roses are very popular, and have been named the Queen of flowers, possibly because of their beauty -- creating a wide expanse of color in the garden, and valued for their heady fragrance too. There are thousands of varieties that differ in shape of blooms, size, fragrance and some even lack thorns.

It has even been said that the rose provides a metaphor for life itself. Traditionally, they have thorny stems that rise to fragrant blossoms, indicating that if you struggle with problems you will eventually discover peace, harmony and beauty.

It is easy to find charts and kits of rose designs; these can vary from the traditional bunch of roses or samplers to the more modern -- Rennie Mackintosh designs or Art Deco. Of course, which design you choose is up to you, and also what you may consider to be the preferences of the lucky recipient of your project. However, it is advisable to consider the symbolism of roses. This may affect your choice of design.

Historically, the Greek goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus were identified by roses, and in Italy, a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where confidential matters were being discussed. Thus, the term 'sub rosa', meaning literally 'under the rose' means 'keeping a secret'.

Many centuries ago, Christians considered the five petals of the rose to symbolise the five wounds of Christ, and the red rose was used to symbolise the blood of Christian martyrs.

The rose is a symbol of many cultures too. It is the national flower of England and the USA. The red rose is considered to be symbolic of socialism and social democracy. They are also used in heraldry and coats of arms. In England, The War of the Roses took place between the House of Lancaster, whose heraldic badge contained a red rose, and the House of York, who was represented by a white rose.

According to the language of flowers, the color and shape of roses have great symbolic importance. These can communicate a message to the recipient of the rose.

• A red rose is a symbol of love. A red rosebud means purity and beauty. A red rose without thorns indicates love at first sight.

• A yellow rose means platonic love, friendship and joy. It can also symbolise new beginnings. If the yellow rose has red tips, this could indicate falling in love.  Beware of yellow roses in German speaking countries. Here, they mean infidelity and jealousy.

• A pink rose symbolises grace and appreciation and a dark pink colour conveys gratitude. Light pink roses mean admiration and sympathy.

• An orange or peach coloured rose convey desire, passion, sensuality and fascination.

• A white rose symbolises purity and innocence, especially in white rosebud form. Typically, a bride will choose white roses; this may be interpreted as a new start in life. A white rose can also indicate reverence, humility and friendship.

If you choose a perfect cross stitch design that has a rose in an inappropriate colour for what you wish to convey, do not despair. With a little thought, you can adapt the design to accommodate a new color.

Here are some tips to help you:

• If you substitute some colored threads from a kit, do use the same brand of threads to that which you are discarding. There are subtle but important differences between different brands and types of thread.

• Remember that you will not be just choosing one color, because the design will probably not contain a solid block of color. You may need to buy several different colored threads. For example, a red rose may contain about four different types of red thread. This makes the rose appear more three dimensional.

• If you are unsure about which colors to use, take your kit to your local needlecrafts shop. There, you can place the threads together to check that they look good. Remember the other colors in the kit, for example, the stems, or maybe other flowers, and the fabric itself when you are choosing a new color. You will not wish for the colors to clash! Your friendly retailer may even enjoy helping you if he or she is not too busy.

If you consider the information above, you will be assured of choosing a great project -- and much appreciated gift for someone special.