Yiota Christodoulou asked:


Here are some cross stitch tips that will help you a lot with your cross stitch projects.

GETTING STARTED

Always start stitching from the center of your fabric. To find the center on your fabric, fold the fabric in half twice. The center will be at the intersection of the two folds.

Finding the center of your chart by following the two arrows. One arrow will be in the top center FABRIC

Put tissue paper in your hoop with your fabric then tear away the center where you are stitching. This will keep oils from getting onto your fabric and help your hands from being moist.

Use different qualities of fabric. Try cheaper fabric for quick designs, saving money so that you can splash out on the best fabric for heirloom projects.
You will want to allow 3 to 4 inches of fabric on each side of the design. This will help you framing your project easily.

THREADS

When stitching with 2 threads use only one strand of floss, put the ends together and thread them through the needle leaving a loop on one end. When you put the needle through on your second stitch, catch it through the loop. This keeps the material from getting bumby.

When ending your thread by running under other stitches, try to match colors. Never run a dark color under light stitched, it might show through to the front.

Back stitch should be added when all other stitching has been completed.

NEEDLES

Many of us we have the bad habit of leaving the needle into the fabric when we end a session. Be aware that this can leave a permanent stain or large hole in your fabric. Always store a needle properly.

TIPS

If you have pets or small children do not keep your cross stitch materials in a bag. Keeping your threads, needles and scissors in a box that shuts securely will prevent little fingers and paws from getting into things easily!

If you are working on a larger needlework project, invest in a set of stretcher bars. They keep the fabric from getting warped and it makes it easier to actually do the sewing. They come in several sizes, and are fairly inexpensive.

Using a highlighter in a light color - yellow works very well for marking off stitches or areas of stitching as you complete them. If your lighting make the yellow hard to see at night, you could use another color like green or blue or orange when stitching at night.



CLAYTON

Yiota Christodoulou asked:


Counted cross stitch is very easy to learn. You only need to follow the design from a printed graph or pattern onto evenweave fabric (usually Aida). You will be using floss and creating crosses (X) on the fabric. Each symbol on the pattern represents one X on the fabric. Different symbols represent different colors of floss.

To start stitching, make sure you have the following:

* Pattern
* Evenweave fabric (usually Aida)

* Needle (size 24 for 14 count Aida and size 26 for any other fabric greater than 14 count).

* Scissors

Most people prefer to stitch on a 14 count Aida. First, finding the center of your chart by following the two arrows. One arrow will be in the top center and the other one in the middle left side of your chart. Follow these two arrows. Where they meet is your center stitch. Next, find the center of your fabric - fold it in half twice. The center will be at the intersection of the two folds.

The first method is to work a row of half stitches (////), then work back (\\\\) to complete the X. Use this method for most stitching. Make sure all stitches are crossed in the same direction and that they lay flat on your fabric.

A color might have only a few stitches and then another color starts. It is up to you if you want to end off and start again with another color or carry the thread along the back. I usually stitch all the same colors first (in one area) and then move to another color in the same area.

That is it! Very simple. Just follow the pattern and you will be creating a wonderful piece of art!



RICKEY

Yiota Christodoulou asked:


Tapestry needles or cross stitch needles are blunt-pointed so that they can pass between the threads. One other characteristic is their large eye to hold many threads of floss. They come in different thickness. You can find different sizes of needles for many counts of fabrics. Needles for cross stitch are the smaller size - 24, 26, 28.

Needles will eventually discolor and mark hands and fabric so remember not to leave the needle in your fabric. There are different qualities of nickel plating. Gold needles are the best as they will not discolor. However they are more expensive.

Different sizes below for aida and evenweave fabrics:

Needle size 18: 6 count aida fabric

Needle size 20: 8 count aida fabric

Needle size 22: 11 count aida fabric AND 22-25-27 count evenweave
Needle size 24: 14 count aida fabric AND 28 count evenweave

Needle size 26: 16 count aida fabric AND 32 count evenweave AND 22 count hardanger

Needle size 28: 18 count aida fabric AND 36-55 count evenweave

If you are not sure what size of needle to choose for your fabric, do this little test. The needle should be small enough to pass through the fabric easily but it should require a little pressure to push it through.

Tip: If you are stitching with French knots, use an embroidery needle. This is a sharp thin needle that will assist with securing the knots into the weave of the fabric. The embroidery needle also has a smaller eye than the tapestry needle.

I hope you found this information useful when choosing needles for your cross stitch projects.



JOHN

c_patching asked:


I am a novice Cross Stitcher and have purchased a Thomas Kinkade printed kit. I’ve already put samples of the corresponding floss by the stitch symbol chart and taped the edges of my canvas to prevent fraying. I’m ready to start the project, but I’m noticing that the chart and the actual print on the canvas are not matching up in the count. For instance, there are more squares on the chart from a point to the edge than there are from the corresponding point on the print to the edge of the printed canvas. I”m also noticing that the chart and printed canvas aren’t really matching up from point to point either. I seem to remember my mom saying something about finding the center of the canvas and starting from there. So can someone who is practiced and knowledgable about this craft please tell me how one follows an embellished cross stitich pattern correctly?

ISRAEL

m_chuard asked:


I am new to cross stitching and I would like to purchase a chart online. But I am unsure on how I will buy the stitch floss. There is over 50 different DMC colors to the pattern. What is the best way to get them?

NORRIS

me_you_together asked:


During a steaming/ironning process, the thread in my cross stitch bled colors into the rest of it. How do I remove it without ruining it further? Please advise!! This is a present to my mother that’s taken me three years!

HOWARD