Cross-Stitch Basics

I like many people my age have never grown up with Crafts , of course I did sewing classes at school and art with my teachers but I never enjoyed them like others did.

I never even thought of cross-stitch until I had been working at a well-known craft store for more than a few months. We were having an annual sale and I decided to by some on sale cross-stitch kits.

Now all I can think about while I am working or studying are my cross-stitches . In this article I will tell you all the basic information you need to know and equipment you may consider buying once you become more interested in the craft .

Aida cloth is the material you need and can be found in the needle work section of most craft stores. Aida cloth comes in a wide range of varieties of colour and size. Once you have selected your pattern it will suggest which colour and size will best suite. For most patterns that I have completed have been done on 14count ivory.

The next essential items that you will need are stranded cotton. These come in different brands and most patterns will give you a choice of either DMC or Anchor. As DMC and Anchor are universal around the world any patterns you my buy overseas will be the same colour. The different numbers all represent a different colour, be aware, however, that when making a cross stitch from a kit some of their colours will be unique for that design and they are often one off colours. This can be a pain when you need more of one colour if you have run out. The last item you will need is an embroidery needle, they are like normal sewing needles but have a more rounded and blunt edge.

Depending of the size of Adia cloth you have chosen will mean you many stands of cotton you will need to use. Your paten book will always advise how many to use if you are in doubt. When on 16 or 14 count Adia you use two strands of cotton.

When setting up your threads you will get so many meters per lot and there are six strands. Once you measure out the piece you want you take two from the six to start your pattern.

Once you have your pattern, cotton, Adia cloth and needle you need to fold or measure your fabric to find the middle square to begin cross-stitching. You start your cross-stitch from the middle stitch of the pattern in the right colour following the pattern which way you want to.

The stitch is very easy simply poke your needle through the Aida cloth and make a diagonal stitch to the next side of the square. To complete the stitch poke the needle though again and criss cross on the other side of the diagonal to make a X. Once the first stitch is there simple continue up or down using the right colour and following the pattern.

Once you have finished your cross-stitching next comes the backstitch. This might sound hard at first but is the easiest part of the process and give amazing definition to your work of art. You usually use one thread in a certain colour to follow the outline of your creation. The border and lines on the pattern will indicate what detail needs to happen.

These are just the basics but go out and enjoy, happy stitching .

Carmel Graham-Williams:

I'm a 22 year old Journalism student in Hamilton, I love Smurfs, DVD's cross stitch, bead making and sleeping.

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