Hiya! since you seem quite knowledgeable about this sort of thing, do you happen to know a good place to start when learning how to cross-stitch? I've never tried it before (nor have I done a lot of needlework) but I've been drawn to it due to the similarities it shares with pixel art. I have looked up starter kits and the like but they tend to be focused on topics that are rather... eh. boring to me unfortunately.
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.
Hope this helps! ✌️
