#cross stitch tutorial

Oh heck yea! Yeah, lemme grab some links and info--

Luckily, cross-stitch is really easy to do-- you get some special fabric that's woven so it makes a grid, a blunt needle, a pattern, and whatever thread colors the pattern needs, and then you just stitch a whole bunch of X's and you're done!

The best fabric to start with would be called '14-count Aida'; a lot of big-box craft stores carry it, plus smaller embroidery stores should too. '14-count' is the size of the grid, and means every square inch of the cloth is woven to make a 14 by 14 grid, and Aida is a common variety. It's nice and stiff, so you may not even need to put it in a hoop, though you can still use one if you'd like.

If you get 14-count fabric, get a Size 24 Tapestry Needle. I wouldn't use a sharp needle, though you could if you have to-- a blunt one like a tapestry needle will be a lot kinder on your hands!

I'd recommend starting with a small, simple pattern in a design that you really like. Like, say, something like these would be pretty good to start:

[All You Need is Love by JuicyArtByDarina][Euler's Identity by StitchForge]

...while these might end up being too ambitious:

[Saturn V Rocket by SpiritLineDesigns] [The Elements According to Relative Abundance, also by SpiritLineDesigns apparently? Man, that's some good range]

That's just a recommendation, though-- you know your own patience for long projects better than I do, so if you see something you love, go for it!

No matter what pattern you get, it should always have a list of thread colors in it: the standard type is DMC embroidery floss, which you can also get at embroidery stores, some of the big-box craft stores, and also online. The pattern should also say how big the design will be, but when you buy your fabric be sure to get something with some extra room. I typically aim for three or four inches bigger than the design, just to be extra safe.

Once you've got those-- plus a pair of scissors, and also a hoop, if you'd like one-- then you're ready to stitch! For that part, I'll defer to Peacock and Fig and her video tutorials, since I reckon it's easier to follow that part if you can see just how the stitches actually happen.

The stitching itself is super easy-- it's all just makin' X's.

What were the five most popular tutorial videos from July?  Here’s what people wanted to learn last month.

#1: Parking Method

This is a bit of an old one, but if you’re wanting to do block-by-block parking for a large HAED (or similar) piece, this one will get it done quickly.  Works best on Aida, may show lines on evenweave or hardanger fabrics.

#2: Converting a Photograph to a Pattern

The demo uses PCStitch, but the stitch software you use is probably the least important part of this process.  Use something free, like Pic2Pat for the same results.  Just get yourself a free piece of software like Paint.NET or GIMP for the image processing, and you’re golden.

#3: Gridding your Fabric

Whether you want to use a pen, or some kind of thread or filament, there are multiple ways to put a grid on your fabric.  The process can be a bit time consuming, but the time it saves with big, complicated projects is a life saver.

#4: Railroading and Laying Tools

Want to keep your stitches perfectly even every time?  There are a few ways to do that.  Railroading is great if you’re using two strands.  Using more than two?  A laying tool is your friend!

#5: Hoops, Q-snaps, Stretcher Bars, and Scroll Frames

Interested in a new hobby? How about this!

Cross Stitch 101: Parking Method

Parking is one of those things that's hard to search for, because it's not exactly an intuitive name, and even knowing that it exists as a technique isn't exactly genetic knowledge.  But if you want to do some gnarly big Heaven and Earth piece, or something that's pure confetti, parking is a good way to make sure you don't wind up with a bunch of tangles and knots on the back.

So, what is parking, anyway?  In short, the name refers to the thread you're using being placed on the fabric for later use.  It's been parked there temporarily, like you park your car at work. This is a difficult one to explain in text, so I'll be brief and let the video below explain it for me.  There are a few different ways to go about parking your thread, but this version is my favourite.  I work one 10x10 block at a time, starting in the upper left corner.  On my chart, I highlight every instance of that colour in that 10x10 block, and stitch them.  Then, I look at the next block below it, and find where that colour occurs again, closest to the top left stitch in that block.  I bring the needle through the fabric, as if to do that stitch, but then I unthread the needle, letting the floss hang through the front of the fabric.  I repeat this process again until the block is fully stitched, and then go down to the next block. Since the next block has parked threads. I take the thread which is closest to the lower right corner of the block.  I highlight that colour on the chart, within that 10x10 block, and stitch it, parking it in the next block as I did before.  I take the next colour which is closest to the bottom right, and repeat.

Cross Stitch 101: Using Variegated Floss

Using variegated floss is a weird beginner problem for some people.  I get asked a lot how it works and how to use it.  The simple answer is however you want. That's not a very helpful answer though. The way that you stitch will determine how your variegated floss works.  Learning how to use variegated floss with one strand is easiest.  But you can use more to change the way it looks.  Using one strand, not folded over, stitch one full X at a time.  This will make both parts of the stitch the same colour, or very similar colours.  Stitching a full X at a time is the English method.  English is the most common method for using variegated floss. Going along your row with half stitches, and then coming back to finish them is the Danish method.  This will make the row change as it goes along.  On the side where you started, the stitches will have different colours on the top and bottom of the stitch.  On the side where you start to double back, you'll have a few stitches of the same colour. Using multiple strands, you can change the way it looks even more.  You can take two strands and use a waste knot to stitch English, and get better coverage across your piece.  (This is what I tend to do for two-colour pieces.) Or, you can take your floss, and double it over and do a loop start.  Now, whether you stitch English, Danish, or tent (half stitches), you'll have a blend of colours in each stitch. (This is what I tend to do for some sprites.) If you want to experiment with one strand to get used to it, but find a single strand difficult to see, try to find some Pearl Cotton and use that on perforated plastic or a low-count aida.