| The art or craft of cross stitch is one of the most | | | | Cross stitching requires you to use a six strand of |
| popular hobbies in the world. Easy to learn and do, | | | | floss or thread and separate it into individual threads. |
| 'cross stitch' is simply embroidery stitched with lots of | | | | Your pattern will tell you how many threads you'll use |
| little 'X' stitches to create a lovely design. This fun craft | | | | at a time. Most often, the larger the weave of your |
| is sometimes referred to as 'counted cross-stitch' | | | | fabric, the more strands of embroidery floss you'll need |
| because the pattern and fabric require the crafter to | | | | at a time. Don't rewind your floss and by all means |
| count the number spaces to know where to place the | | | | don't let it get tangled or bunched up. Your end project |
| stitches. | | | | will look flat and even if you take care of your floss. |
| Most often, cross stitch patterns are done using a | | | | One key factor in learning to cross stitch is |
| woven fabric called Aida cloth. Some advanced | | | | remembering not to knot your thread. Knotting threads |
| stitchers create designs on other types of fabrics | | | | in a cross stitch project will make your end result look |
| using a special backing to help keep the stitching | | | | lumpy and uneven; not a good thing. Just pull your |
| uniform. The kind of fabric you use depends on your | | | | thread through your Aida cloth and make sure to |
| skill level and the type of design you're creating. I've | | | | leave a length of thread on the end in the back. You |
| cross stitched designs on my children's clothing, | | | | can keep the bit of tail from going completely through |
| bedding and other items for my home and as gifts. | | | | the fabric by holding onto it on the back of your fabric |
| Skilled cross stitch crafters create beautiful projects | | | | as you make your first couple of stitches; they will |
| by stitching on plastic and various different papers as | | | | overlap and hold the thread in place. You may have to |
| well. Gift cards and scrapbook designs may be made | | | | practice this easy technique a few times, but you'll get |
| by stitching on paper of varying thickness and fiber. | | | | the hang of it soon enough. |
| Of course you can't cross stitch without the proper | | | | Another handy cross stitching tip is when you're ready |
| thread. The threads used in counted cross stitch range | | | | to change thread colors, just simply pull your needle |
| from basic cotton, to wool or silk threads. Usually very | | | | through the stitches on the back of your fabric to hold |
| colorful, embroidery floss as it's called, comes in all | | | | your thread before you snip it off with scissors. Make |
| kinds of colors and textures for you to play with. | | | | sure to leave a little bit of thread so that it does not |
| If you're just beginning to consider learning to cross | | | | come loose and unstitched. Change your thread color |
| stitch, your best bet is to learn about the craft itself | | | | and start on the next area of your project as you did |
| before you start buying supplies. Your local craft store, | | | | before. And during the stitching process, remember to |
| bookstore, or library will most likely have several books | | | | drop your needle every few stitches, meaning, just |
| available that will teach you and provide easy patterns | | | | hold your project in one hand and let the attached |
| to start with. | | | | needle and thread dangle from the fabric so that the |
| Once you know what's expected of you in the craft | | | | thread unwinds and your next few stitches will be flat. |
| of cross stitching, you'll want to find some easy | | | | I can remember learning to cross stitch from a school |
| projects to begin with that will allow you to learn as | | | | librarian when I was a young girl. She eased my |
| you go. You'll want to start with a project that requires | | | | newbie anxiety with this phrase: 'If you have one eye |
| only a few colors of thread and a larger weave Aida | | | | and half a brain you can cross stitch.' Now, perhaps |
| cloth. By doing so, you'll prevent a lot of unnecessary | | | | that may offend some avid cross stitchers, but she |
| learner's frustration. | | | | didn't mean it in derogatory way. Only that cross |
| When you sit down to start your first cross stitch | | | | stitching is an easy to learn and do craft that just |
| project, you'll want to have all of your materials | | | | about anyone can master. I mastered it in the 1980's |
| available and easy to get to. Start out by reading | | | | and stitched on anything I could get a needle through |
| through the project instructions. You'll want to look | | | | and even taught classes to school kids myself as an |
| over your pattern and make sure that you understand | | | | adult. The biggest problem I and most other cross |
| all of the jargon and markings that you may find on the | | | | stitchers have is the addiction of the craft. One thing to |
| pattern. There will be a color key that you'll need to | | | | keep in mind is to control the number of kits you buy |
| understand so that you use the correct thread color. | | | | or you'll find yourself with drawers of unfinished |
| Make sure to have a pencil handy to make notes or | | | | projects. Have fun and keep on stitchin'! |
| your own marks on the pattern for later reference. | | | | |