An upsurge of interest in crafts and design has led to a number of new software packages for those with nimble fingers.

One of the more comprehensive needlework packages is Cross Stitch Professional Plus 2000 which enables anyone with a windows PC (486 and above) to design stitchcraft patterns.

Designs can be drawn on screen in up to 75 different colours and printed out in normal cross stitch pattern format, enabling the designer to see what the finished work will look like.

Instead of providing a simple matrix of squares for the designer to colour in to suit the design, it allows the user to employ "object" technology - using small parts of the design that can be duplicated, resized and moved around to speed up the process.

The main advantage of object technology is speed, flexibility of use and not having to completely re-draw whole areas of the design if changes need to be made.

This can save hours on a complicated pattern and makes the whole process a lot simpler.

Everything the user needs is displayed on screen in the form of a canvas, colour palette and a fascinating range of tools to create the various stitches.

The canvas is effectively a worksheet and the design is drawn directly on to it. The user can zoom in and out, so poor eyesight is not a problem.

Advanced users will appreciate the optional library of cross stitch motifs that add a lot of extra mileage to an already-excellent product.

Price: £125, plus optional £24.99 for motif library.

Contact: 0845 345 2420.

Feel good factor: 9 out of 10.