How to Begin Cross Stitching

Cross stitch is one of my favorite crafts.  It is easy to do, very relaxing and the results you can acheive can be stunning.  Learning to cross stitch is easy.  Most cross stitch is done on special fabric called aida that has tiny little holes that make it easy to keep track of where you are in your pattern.  It is best to begin cross stitching using aida and then after you have had some practice, you can move on to other fabrics. 

You should choose a pattern that is simple and easy for your first one.  Use masking tape to tape the sides of your fabric to prevent unraveling.  Lay the tape along one side and then fold it over to cover the edges of the fabric.  This is important so that the material doesn't unravel and become to small to create the whole pattern you are doing.

Once you have your material taped and your pattern chosen, you will need to have a needle, scissors and the required embroidery floss colors for the pattern you are doing.  Embroidery floss comes in skeins of six strands but you only use two for cross stitching.  So, you will want to cut a length of floss about 12-14 inches long and separate the strands so that you are only using two at a time.

Find the center of your pattern by the arrows on the side and the top of the pattern.  Match this up with the center of your fabric.  You can find the center of your fabric by folding it in half and then folding it in half again, the opposite direction.

When you begin making your first stitch, you have to secure the thread somehow.  The easiest way to do this is to simply leave a small tail of thread on the back and hold it while you continue to make your first couple of stitches.  As you make the stitches, make sure that the tail remains under them and this will secure the tail under your other stitches.  This will leave the back of your stitching neat and clean.

Ok, so far you have started making your first stitch with the appropriate color from the pattern.  Now, you need to learn how to actually make that first stitch.  It is very simple.  Make an X.  Bring your needle up in the top right hole of the square and go back down in the lower left hole.  Then come back up in the top left hole and down in the lower right.  Make sure that you always go the same direction so all the stitches remain uniform.  You can make your stitches with a stabbing method or a sewing method, whichever is easiest for you.

Continue to make your stitches with the appropriate floss colors to match the pattern.  Never carry your thread across more than two or threen stitches or you will be able to see it from the front.  When you come to the end of your thread, simply run the needle under a few of the stitches across the back to secure it and then cut it off.

When you complete all of the cross stitches for the entire pattern, there may be back stitching to do.  Think of this as outlining.  It makes the picture more clear and defined. 

When you are finished, remove the tape, wash the piece and frame it and you are done with your first cross stitch!