Interested in embroidering? If so, one type of stitch you need to learn is the cross stitch. This is an ancient cross-cultural embroidery technique also known as counted cross stitch or counted cross stitch. The pictures below will show you how to do it on a plastic canvas with embroidery floss to help you get acquainted with the technique.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Selecting Materials
Step 1. Choose a fabric
Although cross stitch refers to a way of creating an embroidered pattern, and not a specific fabric, there is a fabric that is often used for cross stitch, a fabric known as Aida fabric (strimin). This material has a grid or squares that are rarely / far apart so that doing cross stitch stitches is easy. Aida fabric is available in several sizes which refers to the number of cross stitches that can be made in the size of 6.25 cm2. The choices are usually between 11, 14, 18, and 28.
- Starting to embroider with Aida fabric 11 or 14 stitches is easiest to do because there's more room for cross stitches. The more the number of stitches, the smaller the size of the cross stitch.
- If you don't want to use Aida fabric for the cross stitch, other popular options are linen or fiddler fabric. However, these two fabrics don't have as much space as Aida's fabric for a beginner embroiderer.
Step 2. Select the yarn
Cross stitch is a fun embroidery activity because it offers the embroiderer a lot of freedom, especially in the choice of yarn color. Embroidery thread is commonly used for sewing cross stitches and is available in hundreds of colors.
- Each "strand" of embroidery floss consists of 6 strands of thread, but only 1-3 strands are used to embroider a cross stitch at a time.
- Embroidery threads are available in matte, iridescent, and metallic colors. The last two types of yarn are more difficult to use and cost several times more than the non-shiny yarn type.
- If it's difficult to embroider a cross stitch with thread, you can use waxed thread or use a little beeswax to coat the thread before starting to embroider. The wax coating will make it easier for you to thread the thread through the needle and conclude at the end of the stitch.
Step 3. Choose a pattern
Embroidering a cross stitch is as simple as fitting a pattern to the plaid in the fabric. Choose a pattern from a book or the internet, and collect embroidery floss in colors according to the pattern.
- As a beginner, you should probably start with a simple cross stitch. Look for a small pattern that doesn't have too much detail and only uses 3-7 colors.
- If you don't like an existing pattern, you can use a homemade pattern using an image you selected with a computer program, or plaid paper.
Step 4. Use the embroidery ring (ram)
A ram is a double ring made of plastic, metal, or wood, to secure the cross stitch position when embroidering. Although you can embroider without this tool, ram will be very helpful, and it's also not expensive. Using a small ram is easier to keep the fabric from moving, but it has to be moved around a lot. Meanwhile, the larger ram doesn't hold the fabric very tightly but doesn't need to be moved around too often.
Method 2 of 4: Making Your Own Pattern
Step 1. Select an image
Any image can be made into a cross stitch pattern, but simple images with clear shapes are best. Choose a photo or image that has very little color and little detail.
Step 2. Adjust the image
You will need to crop and enlarge the image so that it only focuses on one part of the original image. If you are using a photo editing program, use the " posterize " feature to convert the image into well-defined shapes. Convert the image to black and white before printing, making it easier to choose a color by value.
Step 3. Trace the image
Print the picture and prepare the checkered paper. Place the checkered paper on top of the printout and trace the outlines of the image shapes. Try to limit the amount of detail you trace.
Step 4. Choose a color
After the image and shapes are traced, select 3-7 images for the cross stitch. Use colored pencils that match the color you chose for each shape, focusing on the grid pattern and avoiding curved lines.
Step 5. Use a computer program
If drawing a pattern by hand is difficult for you, try using an easy computer program to turn your favorite image into a cross stitch pattern. Programs like "Pic 2 Pat" help you choose the size of the pattern, the number of colors, and the amount of detail to include in the pattern.
Method 3 of 4: Embroidering Basic Cross Stitch
Step 1. Cut the fabric and thread
The size of the fabric depends on the size of the pattern you are using. Each small square on the cross stitch is a representation of one stitch (or an 'x' shape), and will be counted horizontally to get the exact size. Cut the embroidery thread about 90 cm to start embroidering.
- Embroidery thread usually consists of six strands of thread in a strand, but usually only one strand is needed for a cross stitch. Gently pull one strand of yarn from one strand and use one strand of yarn to work each part of the pattern.
- Some patterns may require more than one thread at a time, so be sure to check your pattern before using a single thread.
- If you run out of yarn, fear not! One of the great things about cross stitch is that you can't see where you start/end the stitch if you're looking at it from the front. Just cut the extra thread and start over from where you last embroidered.
Step 2. Thread the thread into the needle
Take a strand of embroidery floss and tie a knot at the end. Wet the center of the knot (by licking or using water) to make it easier to thread the thread through the needle. Then pull the knot, leaving the two ends of the tail (one end should be very short) facing the eye of the needle in opposite directions.
Step 3. Begin to embroider the cross stitch
Count on your pattern the number of squares for the first cross stitch (usually the middle cross stitch), and thread the needle from the back of the fabric. Pull the thread all the way through, leaving a knot at the bottom. Then cross the yarn diagonally up or down, and pull the needle through the knot underneath to create a stable anchor shape for the cross stitch.
- It doesn't matter if you start your cross stitch into a '////' or '\' shape as long as you stick to this pattern throughout your projects.
- With each stitch you make, sew the thread over the loose thread in the back of the fabric to secure your cross stitch. This will also reduce the chances of your cross stitch coming off as it pulls.
Step 4. Continue to make the cross stitch
Use the same 'x' pattern, working from the middle and working your way out until you finish the pattern. Whenever you run out of yarn, make a knot in the back of the fabric, and cut a new thread again.
Step 5. Complete the cross stitch
When you have finished the pattern and have added the optional fringe stitch, make a knot under the fabric. Make a simple knot at the back of the fabric, and cut off the remaining thread.
Step 6. Wash the embroidered fabric
Our hands are naturally dirty and oily, and of course it makes embroidery dirty too. Washing your hands frequently can help minimize dirt on the fabric, but dirt on the ram is almost unavoidable. Wash the embroidery carefully by hand with soap and water and let it dry on its own after washing.
Method 4 of 4: Practice with the Advanced Cross Stitch Technique
Step 1. Make a quarter cross stitch
The quarter cross stitch is as the name implies, of the 'X' shape in a cross stitch. You can use this stitch to create curved lines and lots of detail. To make a cross stitch, sew from the corner of one square to the center of the square. This stitch will make one leg of an "X" shape.
Step 2. Make a three-quarter cross stitch
This stitch is also often used to create details in patterns. This stitch is made with a half cross (one complete diagonal stitch) and a quarter cross stitch. The result is an "X" with three legs instead of four.
Step 3. Create the back stitch
To create a solid outline around the embroidery, use a strand of embroidery floss (usually black) and sew a back stitch around the outline of the pattern. To make the back stitch, work vertically and horizontally (not creating a '/' or '\' stitch, but a '|' or '_' stitch shape) around the pattern shape. Pull the needle over the square, and back from the bottom, repeat this pattern until you finish the outline of the frame.
Step 4. Make a french knot
While this is not a regular cross stitch, it can be used to create small dots in embroidery. To make a french knot, pull the thread through the fabric. Wind your needle around the thread 2-3 times near the base where the thread enters. Insert the needle into the back of the fabric near its original hole, holding the knot. Pull the needle all the way through the back of the fabric to complete the french knot.
Tips
- When there are multiple stitches of the same color in a row, make a half cross stitch for that row first (////), then go back and finish all into a cross (XXXX). This will save time, save thread, and give your embroidery a neat look.
- To keep the stitches looking the same, make all the bottoms of the cross point in the same direction, for example, starting at the top left and then the bottom right.
- Make sure you see the pattern to avoid mistakes. If you have trouble remembering the count, make a copy of the pattern for when you're embroidering, and color it in with markers or colored pencils after the squares are filled with cross stitches.
- Many patterns are available for free on the internet. You can also find software to design your own patterns, such as PCStitch or EasyCross.
- You can track the yarn by placing it in cardboard or plastic skeins that are widely sold, or use yarn hoops, yarn bags, or even sealed plastic to store each color. Choose a method that works for the project you're working on, and if you like cross stitch embroidery, shop around and find a way that works for you.
