Cross stitch for beginners

Cross stitch is one of the easiest kinds of embroidery to learn: every stitch is the same small X, placed on fabric that already has a grid of holes. Here is what to buy, how to make the stitch and how to pick a first project you will actually finish.

What you need

• Aida fabric. 14-count is the easiest to see and count. Cut it about 8 cm (3 in) larger than the design on every side.
• Embroidery floss (stranded cotton) in the colors from your pattern’s key. Each skein has 6 strands that you separate.
• A tapestry needle, size 24 for 14-count. Its blunt tip slips through the holes without splitting the fabric.
• A hoop or frame to keep the fabric taut, and small sharp scissors.
• A pattern. Start with something small; see below for what makes a good first design.

Prepare the fabric and thread

Find the center of the fabric by folding it in half both ways. Cut a length of floss about 45 cm (18 in) long; longer pieces tangle and wear thin. Pull out the strands you need one at a time, then lay them back together: 2 strands is standard on 14-count.

Make a cross stitch

Bring the needle up through the bottom-left hole of a square and down through the top-right: that is a half stitch (/). Come up at the bottom-right and go down at the top-left to complete the X.

• Make every top stitch lean the same way. It is the one rule that makes finished work look neat.
• For a row of one color, work all the half stitches along the row, then come back crossing them.
• Do not pull tight: the stitch should lie flat on the fabric.

Start and end without knots

Knots make lumps under a framed piece. To start, leave a 2–3 cm (1 in) tail at the back and hold it there so your first few stitches cover it. With 2 strands you can use a loop start instead: fold one long strand in half, thread the two ends, make the first half stitch and pass the needle through the loop at the back. To finish, slide the needle under 4 or 5 stitches on the back and trim.

Choose a first project

Pick a design under 60 stitches wide with fewer than 10 colors and few partial stitches. Initials, a small animal or a simple flower are ideal. You can also make one from your own drawing or photo: keep it small, use few colors, and it can be finished in a weekend.

The Aida fabric calculator tells you the finished size and how much fabric to buy.

Common beginner mistakes

• Miscounting. Count again from the nearest finished stitch before you start a new area.
• Long jumps at the back. Thread carried across more than a few squares shows through light fabric. End it and start again.
• Twisted floss. Let the needle hang down now and then so the thread untwists.
• Tight stitches. Pulling hard distorts the holes and makes the fabric pucker.

Questions