Sherry Frewerd asked:


The art or craft of cross stitch is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Easy to learn and do, ‘cross stitch’ is simply embroidery stitched with lots of little ‘X’ stitches to create a lovely design. This fun craft is sometimes referred to as ‘counted cross-stitch’ because the pattern and fabric require the crafter to count the number spaces to know where to place the stitches.

Most often, cross stitch patterns are done using a woven fabric called Aida cloth. Some advanced stitchers create designs on other types of fabrics using a special backing to help keep the stitching uniform. The kind of fabric you use depends on your skill level and the type of design you’re creating. I’ve cross stitched designs on my children’s clothing, bedding and other items for my home and as gifts.

Skilled cross stitch crafters create beautiful projects by stitching on plastic and various different papers as well. Gift cards and scrapbook designs may be made by stitching on paper of varying thickness and fiber.

Of course you can’t cross stitch without the proper thread. The threads used in counted cross stitch range from basic cotton, to wool or silk threads. Usually very colorful, embroidery floss as it’s called, comes in all kinds of colors and textures for you to play with.

If you’re just beginning to consider learning to cross stitch, your best bet is to learn about the craft itself before you start buying supplies. Your local craft store, bookstore, or library will most likely have several books available that will teach you and provide easy patterns to start with.
Once you know what’s expected of you in the craft of cross stitching, you’ll want to find some easy projects to begin with that will allow you to learn as you go. You’ll want to start with a project that requires only a few colors of thread and a larger weave Aida cloth. By doing so, you’ll prevent a lot of unnecessary learner’s frustration.

When you sit down to start your first cross stitch project, you’ll want to have all of your materials available and easy to get to. Start out by reading through the project instructions. You’ll want to look over your pattern and make sure that you understand all of the jargon and markings that you may find on the pattern. There will be a color key that you’ll need to understand so that you use the correct thread color. Make sure to have a pencil handy to make notes or your own marks on the pattern for later reference.

Cross stitching requires you to use a six strand of floss or thread and separate it into individual threads. Your pattern will tell you how many threads you’ll use at a time. Most often, the larger the weave of your fabric, the more strands of embroidery floss you’ll need at a time. Don’t rewind your floss and by all means don’t let it get tangled or bunched up. Your end project will look flat and even if you take care of your floss.

One key factor in learning to cross stitch is remembering not to knot your thread. Knotting threads in a cross stitch project will make your end result look lumpy and uneven; not a good thing. Just pull your thread through your Aida cloth and make sure to leave a length of thread on the end in the back. You can keep the bit of tail from going completely through the fabric by holding onto it on the back of your fabric as you make your first couple of stitches; they will overlap and hold the thread in place. You may have to practice this easy technique a few times, but you’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

Another handy cross stitching tip is when you’re ready to change thread colors, just simply pull your needle through the stitches on the back of your fabric to hold your thread before you snip it off with scissors. Make sure to leave a little bit of thread so that it does not come loose and unstitched. Change your thread color and start on the next area of your project as you did before. And during the stitching process, remember to drop your needle every few stitches, meaning, just hold your project in one hand and let the attached needle and thread dangle from the fabric so that the thread unwinds and your next few stitches will be flat.

I can remember learning to cross stitch from a school librarian when I was a young girl. She eased my newbie anxiety with this phrase: ‘If you have one eye and half a brain you can cross stitch.’ Now, perhaps that may offend some avid cross stitchers, but she didn’t mean it in derogatory way. Only that cross stitching is an easy to learn and do craft that just about anyone can master. I mastered it in the 1980’s and stitched on anything I could get a needle through and even taught classes to school kids myself as an adult. The biggest problem I and most other cross stitchers have is the addiction of the craft. One thing to keep in mind is to control the number of kits you buy or you’ll find yourself with drawers of unfinished projects. Have fun and keep on stitchin’!



WARD

Diane Palmer asked:


If you love to cross stitch, and you love St. Patrick’s’ Day, or you just love the color green, then try this.
One heart shaped cookie cutter

One Potato cut in half.

Aida cloth, or your preferred cross stitch fabric

Lots of green cross stitch threads

Green ink pad or acrylic paint. (make sure the surface of the potato is dry)

Press the heart shaped cookie cutter into the potato half, and then cut away the rest of the potato, leaving yourself a heart shaped stamp.

Dip your potato stamp onto a green stamp pad or a light layer of acrylic paint, and stamp it onto your cloth three times forming a clover with the narrow part of the heart at the center. Start with the first one at the top of the clover and the other two on each side of it. so that their narrow ends meet in the center.

You now have a three leaf clover. Now draw the stem and let dry. Cross Stitch your clover in the green of your choice, and you now have a “lucky charm” .

You can incorporate this into any type of picture, you could do a collage of them, or you can do a single one. Hang it in your kitchen for “good luck”.

If you have never done cross stitch, now is a good time to learn. Counted cross stitch is easy to learn, and fun, you can get some great videos that show you hands on. Then start creating your own lucky charm.

learn to cross stitch video



GROVER

Janet Kelly asked:


Cross Stitch is  part of the embroidery family of needlework. Designs are achieved by stitching lots of cross stitches on evenweave fabric.  Not only do the crosses define the design but also the use of colours.

Over the centuries children made cross stitch samplers to improve their stitching skills.  These normally would include the alphabet,numbers, their name, the year it was stitched those more accomplished would stitch a verse or poem.  Motifs of trees, animals or a house, would be added to embellish the sampler.

Counted cross stitch is the main description for cross stitch.  The design is stitched on evenweave fabric such as aida,cotton or linen.  The fabric has an even amount of holes per 10cms.  For example aida cloth can have 14 holes per 10cms and when stitching count the holes.

Over the last thirty years inparticular cross stitching has developed and the diversity of designs is endless.  The availability of accessories has increased cross stitch as a hobby. Making your completed design into a gift for someone special is so rewarding.  Stitching a card specially for someones birthday,wedding anniversary,new baby or just to say thank you to see the pleasure on their faces is satisfying.  The recipient knows that you have stitched it with them in mind.  With cards they can be put into a frame to be displayed for all to see.

Not only can you create cards but fridge magnets,bookmarks,pillows, cushions,keyrings,tablecloths, babies bibs,boottees and the list goes on.

It is an easy skill to learn with beautiful results.  All you need is fabric, thread,chart,needle,sharp scissors and an embroidery hoop however some people prefer to just hold the fabric in their hand and stitch.  A hoop needs to be large enough for you to be able to stitch the whole design without moving the hoop.  Using a hoop does keep the fabric taut helping to keep your stitches neat as they are kept at the same tension.

You will be amazed how many people are avid cross stitchers be warned it is highly addictive.

From a small investment the hours of pleasure you have stitching the piece of work is worthwhile.  It is versatile as you can take small projects on holiday with you or whilst travelling.



CORNELIUS