Fabric
The fabric used for cross stitch is called Aida. This fabric is available in a variety of counts, with the most common being 14 count. The count means the number of squares (or stitches) per inch. Therefore, 14 count Aida has 14 squares per inch, whilst 18 count Aida has 18 squares per inch.
Embroidery Floss
The cotton thread used to stitch cross stitch patterns is called embroidery floss. There are several brands of embroidery floss however the most common are DMC and Anchor.
For 14 count Aida use 3 strands of embroidery floss, but for 18 count Aida use 2 strands.
Embroidery Hoop
In order to keep the material tort whilst stitching an embroidery hoop is used. Ensure that you remove the material from the hoop when you are not stitching, to avoid hoop marks in the fabric.
Starting Your Cross-Stitch
First, cut a piece of material larger than the finished design size shown on the pattern. Ensure that this is large enough to fit into a frame or card etc once completed.
Before you start to sew you will need to find the centre of the cross stitch chart. You will then need to find the centre of the material. This can be done easily by folding the material in half horizontally to make a small crease, and then folding the material vertically to make another small crease. Where the two creases meet, this will be the centre of the material.
Thread your needle with 2 or 3 strands of embroidery floss (depending on whether you are using 14 or 18 count Aida). Do not knot the end of the thread as the knots may show through the finished design. Instead, start stitching the design (start from the centre of the design) leaving about a 1 inch tail on the thread, stitch the next few stitches over this tail, so that it is secure, you can then cut off any extra thread.
To fasten off the end of a thread when you have finished using it, thread the needle back through the last few stitched and cut off the extra thread.
Stitches
It is important that all cross stitches are crossed in the same direction, the first (bottom) stitch is usually stitched as /, and the second (top) stitch is usually stitched as .
Try to ensure that your stitches are all of an even tension, and that they are not too tight (ie they should not distort the holes in the Aida) and they are not too lose (ie they should not be baggy).
Backstitching
In addition to the actual cross stitches many patterns call for backstitches (running stitch) as well. This is usually used for outline or lettering. Use 2 strands of floss for backstitching on 14 count Aida, and 1 strand for 18 count Aida
Working with Waste Canvas
Waste canvas can be used to add a cross stitch design to various other types of fabric. For example, to add a cross stitch board to a towel, or add a motif to a t-shirt. Cut a piece of waste canvas larger that the finished design size. Find the centre of the canvas and then tack the canvas on to the material where the design is to be added. Ensure that the canvas threads are aligned with the grain of the fabric (otherwise your design will not be straight).Start stitching from the centre of the design, ensuring that the tread passes evenly through the canvas and the fabric at the same time. Try to aim for the centre of each square when stitching, so that the stitches will be evenly sized. Ensure that adjacent stitches are stitched through the same hole, to avoid having gaps between the stitches.
Once you have finished your design, remove the tacking stitches. Fray the canvas threads on one side of the design to create a fringe and then gently pull the remaining threads out one at a time (using tweezers if necessary).
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