Cross-Stitching is a wonderful hobby with beautiful results. Here are some tips to make it easier to get started.
Cross-stitching is a wonderful hobby whose results are both beautiful and rewarding. It is challenging, but in a fun way. Once you get going, there is no stopping you! There are so many patterns varying in every topic or interest that it is impossible to get bored with this art. You can cross-stitch anything from flowers to animals or even wizards and dragons! The other bonus about cross-stitching is that you can pace yourself, a little each day or spend hours doing it. These projects are simple to store and keep organized. Here are a few easy steps to keep in mind when you do a project.
ONE: For beginners, start out with a small sample project. Wal-Mart has the best beginner's packets; they come with the canvas, thread, needle and sometimes a frame. Or, you can buy a pre-stamped fabric, these are not any less challenging than counted cross-stitching, they are just less confusing since you just follow the print. Pre-stamped fabrics are great for learning the actual stitch, which is just an X, made is rows to form pictures.
TWO: Store your project somewhere safe and dry. You want to take care not to get the canvas dirty or lose the thread. If you buy an all-in-one kit it can often be difficult to match the colors if any should be misplaced. A Ziploc bag works great for smaller pieces and plastic storage boxes work great for larger ones, and both methods of storage are inexpensive.
THREE: Beginning a project; Before you start, wash your hands. This may sound foolish, but it helps keep lint, oil or other foreign substances off the canvas, most canvases are white or cream colored and can stain easily. They are washable, but it may bleed the dye on the thread. It is best to be cautious.
Every kit comes with a pattern and basic instructions to follow. These instructions are not worded for first time stitchers. There are two basic stitches; the cross stitch and the backstitch. Before we discuss the stitches, there are a few tips to preparing your canvas.
Every project has a central starting point. On the pattern, there will be an arrow at the top of the grid pointing down, then along the side of the project (each patterns differs whether this arrow is on the left or the right) will be another, pointing towards the inside of the picture. With a pencil, very lightly follow the vertical line down the pattern until it seems to be lined up with the arrow on the side. To double check, lightly trace the horizontal line until it reaches the point of the side arrow. The lines should meet exactly, not a row off. Follow back to the center of the pattern and make a dot where the two lines intersect. This is your starting point on the pattern.
To find the center of your canvas, first place a strip of masking tape over the edges of the canvas, folding it so that it neatly wraps both sides, the tape doesn't have to be wide, just enough to cover the outside edges of the canvas. This prevents the canvas from fraying. If left un-taped, it will continue to fray until there is nothing left. Having neatly taped the edges, fold the canvas in half, lengthwise. Crease the fold gently. Then fold it in half again, width wise, this creates a square. Unfold the canvas and you should have four equal squares. Follow the creases until they meet in the middle. This is your starting point. Mark it with your needle. Do not write on the canvas. Now you are ready to begin!
FOUR: Before you start the actual stitching, sort your thread. Every pattern will list the color of the thread along with its corresponding DMC number (this is the color code on the brand name floss). Again, this does not guarantee you will find a match, some projects that include their own thread use "in house" thread and the shades may differ. Larger canvases may require a hoop. These are made out of wood or plastic, with a screw at the top to adjust tightness and two equal hoops. Place the canvas over the hoop without the screw. Then place the top hoop over this, capturing the canvas between the two hoops. Pull the canvas tight, relieving any wrinkles or sags. Tighten the screw until the canvas is held firmly. This gives you a better hold and a nice taught working area.
FIVE: Read the directions to the pattern. All backstitching is done last! Let's talk about the actual stitches.
The actual cross-stitch is an X made from connecting corner or opposite holes. All stitches "hold hands", or share holes. Every canvas has holes evenly spaced throughout the fabric. Canvases vary and the size of the hole range from large holes to very tiny holes. The smaller the holes, the harder the project.
All cross-stitches work in a diagonal. It is easier to work from the center point to the left. Work half stitches of corresponding color in a row, this will look like a row of \ to number the count of stitches of that one color. (Each color is represented by a symbol, rows are made by counting the number of same symbols, example: Y stands for yellow, on your pattern you would see YYYYYYYYY making the outside petal of a flower. This means you make nine stitches of yellow in a row.) After you have made the \ stitches, connecting diagonal holes or opposite corners, you cross over them, working back with another half stitch like this /. This creates the X, or the full cross-stitch. Every stitch shares corners, you may have up to four threads coming out of one hole. Your stitches should be close together, touching and neatly formed. You want to watch for uneven stitching. This may happen by either missing the corner hole or by pulling the thread through the hole above it. If this happens, just unthread the needle, gently lift the mistake with the tip of the needle, making sure to get the entire strand of thread, and pull out.
NOTE: In counted cross-stitch, you must always keep count! Do not try to stitch by sight alone, one stitch off count will affect the entire piece! Double check by counting forward with the \ stitches then counting back with the / stitches, verifying that you have the exact number of Xs. It is a good idea to draw a very light line through each row completed on the pattern so that you are able to keep track of where you are. Small patterns can become confusing and double rows are a common mistake.
Follow these steps throughout the entire pattern. Be sure to count carefully, and use the color marked by the exact symbol given. When you need to change colors or you are at the end of your thread, run the needle through the back of the canvas, under a couple of stitches, pulling the thread through. Snip the end of the thread, leaving a very small tail. (All patterns will have instructions on how to start and end threads).
SIX: Backstitching is the final touch. This stitch is simple and it adds an outline to the picture, drawing it forward by giving it more definition. The backstitch is made by making a straight line from hole to hole. These are not diagonals, though sometimes you may have to cut diagonally to follow the pattern. The backstitch outlines the cross-stitch, running the length of any given area to be outlined. It is usually done in a darker thread, creating contrast. This is by far, the easiest stitch to do!
Cross-stitching is a wonderful artwork to do to relax or cheer up those rainy day blues. It may be challenging, but not too difficult and the results are great. Give it a try, and see for yourself.
