How to Cross Stitch: A Beginner's Guide
Cross stitch is wonderfully simple: every picture is made from tiny X-shaped stitches on a grid of fabric. If you can count and thread a needle, you can do it.
What's in a kit
- Aida fabric: a cotton fabric woven into a grid of little squares. The "count" (e.g. 14ct, 18ct) is how many squares per inch; 14ct is the easiest for beginners.
- Stranded thread (floss): usually six thin strands twisted together. You normally separate them and stitch with two.
- A blunt tapestry needle.
- A chart (counted kits) or a printed design on the fabric (stamped kits). Stamped kits are easier for a first go.
An embroidery hoop keeps the fabric taut and is worth having if your kit doesn't include one.
1. Prepare
Find the centre of your fabric by folding it in half both ways, and start stitching from the centre of the design so it ends up in the middle.
2. Thread up
Cut a length of thread about as long as your forearm, separate two strands, and thread the needle. Don't tie a knot; it makes lumps on the back.
3. Make a cross
Bring the needle up through the bottom-left hole of a square, and down through the top-right. That's one half of the X. Then come up bottom-right and go down top-left to complete it.
For a row of the same colour, work all the first halves (/ / /) along the row, then come back doing the second halves (\ \ \). It's faster and looks neater.
4. Start and finish without knots
Hold a short tail at the back and catch it under your first few stitches. To finish, run the needle under three or four stitches on the back and trim.
Tips
- Make all your top stitches lie in the same direction for a smooth finish.
- Let the needle dangle now and then to untwist the thread.
- Good light makes a huge difference.
Find beginner and advanced designs in our cross stitch kits.
