Cross stitching and embroidery how to guide!
A lot of individuals, both females and males, find cross stitching and embroidery pretty much easy to accomplish
even as a newbie, but it helps a lot to get a few insider suggestions to help when you first start. Here’s and outline of the wording and cross stitch skills you will come across.
Cross stitch Embroidery design kits.
A kit is a package that has all the stuff you would need to make the shown design pattern.
It holds the colored fabric and floss, needle & the cross stitch pattern chart.
It should also contain basic instructions for that paticular embroidery design patter.
Cross stitch pattern chart.
A pattern chart is a pictured diagram description of how to complete your pattern kit. (like + and #)
The colored fabric.
The fabrics are created in an exact pattern which makes it simple to move the needles through the fabric, to get even
stitching and to count all of the squares. You normally do stitching over 1 square.
Eleven count aida translates to there being eleven squares in every inch of fabric and the same with 18 and so on. The
count of the fabric will then determine the finished dimensions of the end design.
The lower the count, the higher the cross stitches
and its harder to cross stitch in higher fabric count, that is, 18 is harder than 11. The most popular most oftenly used are 16 to 14.
Fabric that is evenweave.
Evenweaves any style. Whether it is cotton, blends, linen, or totally synthetic, woven with a hole between each thread for stitching. Unlike previously you were stitching over 1, now, with evenweave, you will stitch 2 over. However Evenweave threads comes in counts, of which 24, 28 and 32 are the most common.
Floss.
Also known as stranded cotton thread, is made of six dividable strands so they may change your stitching end results
pending on the amount of strands that were used.
Best used for long, cross, short and satin stitches.
Most cross stitching embroidery is done with a couple strands and the design pattern states whether the stitches are to
be done with one or more than two strands of floss.
Washing your cross stitch embroidery designs is ok but only when REALLY needed. Obviously use the delicate cycle and
an extremely gentle detergent. You can lightly iron on a towel (not white as it may stain) to dry it.
Organize with the included Thread Card.
Most kits for cross stitching embroidery include a thread card. The different cottons should be sorted on that card.
If this has not been done yet, do this by starting with the hole and dont forget to label all of the different threads and
types.
Needle.
Cross stitching uses a tapestry needle. It has a big eye and a blunt point.
An example would be to use a 24 needle with 14 count aida fabric.
Embroidery frame.
Hoops are used to hold the cross stitch fabric while you’re stitching.
Some stitchers like to hold it in their hands as they stitch.
But if you choose this way, you have to keep the fabric taut.
You may feel as if holes are coming open or getting a ripple in the fabric.
When this happens use the hoop frame. This way the needle will come right up from the back
and then straight back down which means that you will move one hand from the front to the back to pull the needle
through & then the opposite.
If you own an embroidery stand, you could stitch with 1 hand on top of the fabric and the other underneath. This way you do not have to move a hand from front to back and such.
Getting ready to starting your pattern design.
Please read over the pattern design instructions at the very beginning. Stitch over the edges by hand first, or by zigzag
stitch on a machine to keep the fabric ends from frays. This is not required, just a good idea. Specialty scissors are also
often used to make that edge.
If there are wrinkles, softly iron it out. Find the middle of it by folding one way and then the other.
It is not mandatory, but a good idea for newbies to start from the middle of the cross stitch embroidery pattern design.
Cross off the areas that you have finished on your chart so you can track the patterns section you have finished already.
The different Stitches you will come across.
The Cross stitch. Back Stitch. Quarter Cross Stitch, and French knots.
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A cross stitch is done by stitching a line of 1/2 crosses 1st & then go back on the same line adding
top stitches. Take the needle through the bottom left of the corner in the square & put it in diagonally at top right.
A second style is to complete each stitch as your stitching.
Best for when embroidering the cross stitch vertical rows of the design pattern.
Work from the lower left to upper right first, this is extremely important.
This way all the top ones will keep the same directional angles, which will maintain a perfect flow to your final designed pattern.
A 1/4 cross stitch takes up only a quarter of span of a full cross stitch. Split the middle threads of your fabric with the needle.
To do French knots you will bring your needle through where the knot is required and twist the thread round the needle two times.
Turning the needle back into the fabric, right near, but not exactly on to where you bought it through, then pull the needle on through the fabric while keeping the floss really tight.
Back stitch is a stitch used to outline part of the embroidery part of the cross stitch design pattern.
It adds definition and also used for creating letters. This stitching is usually done with one strand of floss after the embroidery’s stitching has been completed.
Cross Stitch Tips.
Make sure you have very clean hands before you start your cross stitch embroidery.
Restart rather than carrying floss across spaces where there aren’t any cross stitches. Because this will show in your end results of your patten when completed.
Drop the needle when you are under the hoop every so often to keep the threads straight.
Instead of using knots, bring the needle from the back leaving a small amount which will be secured by the next
several stitches. Then, run it along about 6 of the stitches on the back of the embroidery.
When you are not stitching, take out the needle so it doesn’t leave an imprint in a stich.
Good Luck embroidering!
