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

Happy_Wheatland asked:


Does anyone have a lot of cross stitch patterns/Leaflets/charts in good condition for sale? I need a bunch of them for lessons in a senior’s home……….I need like a 100 or more……Thanks

ISAIAH

KOLLEGE KUTiE asked:


I like to do holidays, frogs (as in the amphibian), offensive sayings, things that can be given as gifts, etc.

I don’t want to infringe on anyones’ copyrights, so send me LEGIT & LEGAL links only.

Thanks in advance peeps! 10 points is coming your way if you find some patterns that will ring my bell!

ENRIQUE

Mellie asked:


I’m 19 and I need a hobby so I chose cross stitch but all the patterns are of a vase of flowers or a cat.
I found this website in America which is cool http://www.subversivecrossstitch.com/index.html
Any one know anything like that in UK?
Possibly less offensive though lol

DEVIN

Crazy Mama asked:


My grandma is looking or Dachshund and Pug dog patterns. She would also like some winnie the pooh bear and elmo patterns.

They need to be for cross stitch or plastic canvas and please be free. We don’t have have very much money and she is trying to start on Christmas presents for the family.

Thanks I have searched on Google and on Yahoo and I haven’t been able to find anything.

Thanks for your help.

GARRETT

John Wigham asked:


Cross-stitch is not just an activity for women. Plenty of men love to pull out those needles and flosses to cross-stitch projects that they enjoy. For most men who cross-stitch it is about creating “art” or having a special interest in the design… and of course Cross Stitch is wonderfully therapeutic when it comes to de-stressing.

For some it is just not “manly” to call it a “craft”. While men do not make up a large percentage of cross-stitchers, they most certainly do exist. Yet, many people wonder about men who like to cross-stitch, and it brings up a number of interesting questions:

Are Men Better than Women… at Cross-Stitch?

The simple answer to this question is that of course men are not better than women, just as women are no better than men either. Cross-stitching is a learned skill, and any person who cross-stitches is only as good as they allow themselves to be. Practice, practice, and more practice make a person a better cross-stitcher, not their gender.

Do Male Cross-Stitch Designers Exist?

Yes! Of course there are male designers. Why ever not? Cross-stitch design is an art form and certainly not restricted to the female gender. There are many men involved in creating their own cross-stitch patterns. For some it is a direct offshoot of their art - like Thomas Kinkade. For others, they are part of a design business, like the husband and wife team at Heartland House. Men are involved in designing and bringing you some of the great cross-stitch patterns. Some cross-stitch designers are also fashion designers and use their thread and floss to create patterns on the attire that they create.

Which Patterns are Popular with Men?

Men tend to choose more art-like patterns than women. They may not be as open to you choosing a teddy bear pattern for a pillow.

Often men are drawn to the things they like. If a man likes sports, he may choose a kit that represents his sports team. If a man is into architecture, then he may choose to cross-stitch a pattern based on Frank Lloyd Wright. There are even some gamers that have cross-stitched their favorite video game characters.

Other men use cross-stitch to create designs on their clothing, too. If you are choosing a pattern to give to a man, then you should take a look at what they like. Go with their interests.

How Do Men Get Into Cross-Stitch?

This question really depends on the man. Some men get involved simply because someone they love does it. A little boy may have wanted to do what his mother was doing. A man may help his wife finish a project only to find he liked it. Other men need something to do, and it is a craft just lying around. Often men do not find that they seek out cross-stitching, but it finds them one way or another. Some men believe it makes them look attractive to women, so they use it as a way to “pick someone up”.

How Do I Handle a Man Who Wants to Cross-Stitch?

Embrace it. It takes a lot of courage for a man to put aside an image of masculinity to admit they want to try a “girly” craft. If the man is a significant other, then take pride in the fact that your man wants to share something with you. If it is a young man, then encourage the creativity that will come from the craft.

It is not often that men can put away the machismo to do something enjoyable like cross-stitch, so open up and be willing to teach and inspire. Who knows… the cross-stitching man in your life may find a way to inspire you too!



KENDALL

tlh asked:


is anyone intersted in designing cross stitch patterns?

i have web page set up and still being tweeked but i am selling my designs and could sell yours.

Or you can just buy mine also any ideas on improving the website would be greatly appriecated, there is also a forumn where you can leave messages etc .

www.tullytoys.com

let me know what you think either on here or on the forumn on the webpage i am a beginner at this and would like construtive comments thank you.
alisha b : why? for having a hobby that i enjoy and make money from can i just state that i started cross stitching after a car crash left me home bound and i needed something to keep me going, so why does my interest in this and wanting to share it make me stupid i believe that you must the stupid one for giving such an idioitic answer
as i have stated we are still tweeking the site and i have people working on the forumn as i type. There may be a few websites out there doing freebies i have been to them, but the designs arent what i liked so i did my own i don’t expevt huge numbers of sales its just something i enjoy doing and its not just the design its a whole kit i make up.

CHAD

expertvillage asked:

Learn about the various patterns used for cross stitching in this free embroidery video lesson. Expert: Vickie Pavone Bio: Vickie Pavone is a wife and mother of 8. She also teaches Cross Stitching at her church. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

BUFORD