Cross stitch for beginners: your first piece in 6 steps
Cross stitch is the simplest embroidery technique there is: you make the same stitch over and over, just in different colours. Here is what you need, how to read a chart and what matters for your first piece.
Step 1: The materials
- Fabric: 14 count Aida. The holes are easy to see and every block is one stitch.
- Needle: a tapestry needle with a blunt tip, size 24. It slides through the holes without splitting the fabric.
- Thread: stranded cotton made of six strands. On 14 count you stitch with two of them.
- An embroidery hoop and a small pair of sharp scissors.
Step 2: Reading the chart
A chart is a grid. Every square stands for one cross stitch and every symbol for one thread colour. The key tells you which thread number belongs to which symbol. Heavier lines divide the grid into blocks of ten so counting is easier.
Step 3: Start in the middle
Fold the fabric once lengthwise and once across. Where the folds cross is the centre. Start there with the centre of the chart, and the design is guaranteed to sit in the middle with enough fabric on every side.
Step 4: The cross stitch
- Come up at the bottom left.
- Go down at the top right. That is the first half stitch.
- Come up at the bottom right.
- Go down at the top left. The cross is complete.
For several stitches of the same colour in a row, make all the half stitches in one direction first and the top stitches on the way back. It is faster and looks more even.
The most important rule: the top stitch always points the same way. Only then does the stitched area shine evenly.
Step 5: Starting and ending a thread
Do not tie a knot. At the start, leave a short tail on the back and work your first stitches over it. To finish, run the thread under four or five stitches on the back and cut it off.
Step 6: Keeping track
Tick off every finished stitch on the chart. On paper you use a highlighter, on screen you simply tap the stitch. That way you find your place again straight away after every break.
Typical beginner mistakes
- Thread too long: more than an arm’s length tangles and frays. About 18 inches is better.
- Pulled too tight: the fabric distorts and holes appear. The stitch should lie flat.
- Miscounted: at every colour change, count from the last stitch you are sure of, not from the edge.
- First project too big: a small design with few colours is more fun than a wall hanging that never gets finished.
Frequently asked questions
Which fabric is best for cross-stitch beginners?
14 count Aida. The holes are clearly visible and one block is exactly one stitch.
How many strands do you use for cross stitch?
On 14 count Aida, two of the six strands. On finer fabric one strand is often enough, on coarser fabric use three.
How long does a cross-stitch piece take?
That depends on the stitch count. A small design of 2,000 stitches is done in a few evenings, large pieces with tens of thousands of stitches take months.