This guide is intended for beginners and will walk through everything from fabric choice, to navigating a pattern, to backstitching.

Fabric

  1. It's better to start with aida fabric rather than linen, as the crosses to weave ratio is one-to-one and therefore it's harder to make counting mistakes. Linen is good for when the pattern calls for quarter stitches.
  2. The thread count of fabric is the number of threads that fit into an inch. You can use this to divide the pattern dimensions by, to get the size of the pattern in inches. If using linen, times the result by two. 28 thread count linen with a pattern that is 80 squares wide, times two, will be 5.7 inches wide.
  3. Cut the fabric with at least three inches extra padding around the pattern. If using a hoop, the fabric should have two extra inches around the hoop.

Aida vs linen -https://www.littleloveliesbyallison.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

Aida vs linen -https://www.littleloveliesbyallison.com/2012_03_01_archive.html

Floss

  1. Cross-stitch thread is referred to as floss. Cut about an arms length of floss to use, if using the loop method to start.
  2. Don't use the floss as is. Pull two strands of thread from the floss and thread the two strands onto your needle. You can use three or more strands if the thread count of the fabric is lower than standard, or for a fuller look. 14 count aida will use two strands.

Starting

  1. Fold the fabric in half once vertically and once horizontally to find the centre of the fabric. Start stitching from the centre of the pattern, to make sure your work is centered on the fabric.
  2. With linen, stitch over two threads in the weave as opposed to one. It's easy to make off-by-one mistakes so count twice and stitch once.
  3. Use a blunt needle. Use the loop method for starting to avoid having to weave starting ends in. When weaving in the tail end, weave it under at least three stitches to secure it.
  4. Tension is important. Don't pull too tight, especially with linen, or you'll warp the evenness of the weave and your stitches will be smaller. Stay consistent with your tension throughout the project to make the stitches look even.

Stitching one leg at a time - https://mismatch.co.uk/cross.htm#prep_fab

Stitching one leg at a time - https://mismatch.co.uk/cross.htm#prep_fab

Stitching

  1. It's quicker and more efficient to do one leg of a cross for a group of stitches first and then double back on yourself, instead of doing one cross at a time. You only have to pay attention to the pattern for half the amount of time, as you'll be retracing your steps for the second leg. It doesn't matter which leg you start with as long as you stay consistent.
  2. If you pay attention to traveling the least distance on the back of the work you'll use less floss, and will therefore spend less time threading up a new needle of floss.