How to cross stitch. This is a simple tutorial on the basic stitches used in cross stitch. To begin a
cross stitch; bring your threaded needle up through the backside of your
fabric, leaving a short tail of floss out the back. Work your first few
stitches over this tail to secure it. You can also use what is
called a loop knot. A
loop not is a good choice if you are using two strands of floss (which
you do in most cross stitch) or when your design calls for just a few
stitches like a flower, star, eye, etc. Fold your threads in half
and insert the cut ends in the eye of this needle, leaving a loop at the
bottom or tail. Bring the needle up through the back side of the
fabric in step one, then down through the fabric in step two and then go
through the loop on the back side, thus anchoring your thread down. There are no knots in cross
stitch. To finish your row of stitches, run your floss under 3 or 4
stitches on the back.
Single
cross stitch:
Work each square by bringing your needle and floss up through hole 1 and
down through hole 2, up through 3 and down through 4 to make an X.
Row of
cross stitches:
Work from left to
right first and then right to left. Work in rows when ever possible.
Go up through hole 1, down through 2, up through 3, down 4, and so on.
The back
of your fabric should be almost as neat as the front. Try not to make
jumps of more than 3 stitches of the same color thread on the back. It
wastes thread, may show through, and looks tacky. Remember, the
back of your cross stitch should be almost as neat as the front if you
are a good stitcher. When working a new
area, secure the thread behind a few stitches, cut and start a new set
of stitches in the new area.
Half
stitch:
For a
softer look, your project may call for areas of half stitches. Half
stitches of one strand of floss are often used for the sky or mountains
and tress in the back ground. A half stitch is half a cross stitch. Up
through hole 1, down hole 2, and so on. This is the
same stitch used for petipoint and needlepoint, except that peti and
needlepoint are worked on canvas. Petipoint is worked on
canvas with 16 or more count (or meshes) per inch, which makes it a
smaller more delicate stitch.
Back
stitch:
The back
stitch is used to outline the design once you are done with all the
cross stitches. Outlining will define your design and make it more
“finished” looking. You generally use one strand of floss for this.
Bring your needle up through hole 1, down through 2, up through 3, and
so on.
¼
stitch:
¼
stitches are used for contours in your design. For a ¼ stitch, bring
your thread up through hole 1 and then down through the center of the
square you are working on. This is a little harder when using Aida
because you must push the needle through the center of the square.
When working with Linen, Jobelan, Lugana, and other fabrics there is a
hole in the center of the square of the X, which makes quarter stitches
much easier to do.
3/4
stitch:
3/4
stitches are also used for contours in your design. It is a 1/4
stitch and a 1/2 stitch combined.
French Knot:
French Knots are occasionally used in cross stitch, usually for things
like flowers, buttons, etc. They can give your piece a textured
look. First, bring you needle and thread up through hole 1.
Hold your needle with your right hand, take the thread with your left
hand and wrap it around your needle twice while keeping the tension
tight. Keep holding the thread tightly and put the needle back
down through the fabric at hole 2. Pull on the loop so it stays
wrapped tightly around the needle and pull the needle from the back to
make your French Knot.
Stitching on Linen
Stitching over two
When
stitching on linen you generally stitch over two threads of fabric.
The basic stitch on linen is done from left to right, bottom to top.
Each square of fabric for each stitch (cross) is like
working in a tic-tac-toe grid. Slant over two threads of fabric
and up two threads of fabric. Once you have work about three
stitches, the eye will begin to see the pattern and it should make
stitching easier. Do your first row of stitches from left to right
and then cross back from right to left. The back side of your
fabric will show vertical stitches (up and down).
Hoop-less Stitching
It is not necessary to use a hoop when stitching on
Linen. Instead, hold you hand in a relaxed position with the thumb
and forefinger grasping the cloth and the little finger anchoring it.
Use a sewing motion rather than a stab stitch. A sewing stitch is
one scooping movement in and out. Be sure not to do the stitches
too tight as to distort the fabric or too loose.
Remember, there are no
knots in cross stitch. Knots can either pull through the fabric,
or leave bumps. This makes your work sloppy and tacky.
Hardanger
Hardanger is a
embroidery or needlework method that began in Hardanger, Norway.
It was originally done on white or off white Linen fabric with a
similar color of thread. Today there is a special 22 count fabric
made just for doing Hardanger work called Hardanger fabric. It
comes mostly in neutral colors, but there are some colors like purple
starting to come out. Most of the stitching is done with either a
size 5 Pearl Cotton floss and a size 8 floss for the finer work.
Hardanger can be combined with cross stitch to make a beautiful piece of
work. Hardanger is easier than it looks. I just
recently taught myself how to do Hardanger. Many of my
ancestors were from Norway, so I found it interesting and fun. It
is so easy that I have already started to create my own patterns for
Hardanger. Once you learn the basic stitches, it is fun and easy
to create your own patterns.
The most basic and
easiest stitch used to create a Hardanger design is called the Satin
Stitch.
Blackwork
Blackwork is a traditional method of cross stitch that is worked on
a white linen fabric with a black thread. Originally it was worked
using black sheeps wool. No other color was added to the design.
For a more modern twist on blackwork, you can us a colored floss to
replace the black. This type of design is also
referred to as a silhouette. If you like to carry your work
with you and don't want to bring a lot of supplies with you, this is a
great compromise. You only have to carry one type of floss, your
fabric, a needle and scissors (a hoop if you use one).
