| tion_start --> | | | | frame the finished piece. Another benefit by starting at |
| Speak to most people who cross stitch and they will | | | | the center is that you know you will have enough |
| be the first to tell you that they love cross stitching | | | | material. It would be an absolute nightmare if you |
| because it is so relaxing. It also gives you a great | | | | started on one side, only to get to the other side and |
| sense of accomplishment and pride to show off your | | | | find out that after all your hard work, you don't have |
| finished pieces. Best of all - it is so easy to learn. | | | | enough material to finish your design on. |
| There are two types of cross stitching - one type is | | | | To begin stitching, bring the threaded needle up from |
| called counted cross stitch (where you work from a | | | | the back of the fabric leaving about a 1" tail of thread |
| pattern) and the other type is called stamped cross | | | | behind the fabric. Stitch the next 5 or 6 stitches over |
| stitch (where the design has been pre-printed onto | | | | the tail. Clip off extra thread. To end off, weave your |
| fabric). Stamped cross stitch is also called "no count | | | | needle back through the last 5 or 6 stitches and clip |
| cross stitch" because you do not have to count the | | | | the thread short so as not to leave a loose tail. Do not |
| squares on the fabric to figure out where a stitch | | | | make knots on the back of the fabric when starting or |
| should be placed. | | | | ending your stitching, as the knots will make lumps on |
| Counted cross stitch transfers a design from a printed | | | | the fabric and will not allow the piece to lie flat. |
| pattern onto evenweave fabric. One square in the | | | | When stitching your little X's, first work a row of half |
| fabric represents one square on the pattern. Each | | | | stitches (////) one way, then work backwards to |
| square on the pattern, which contains a symbol, | | | | complete the X's. It is important that all the X's are |
| represents a stitch. The different symbols on the | | | | crossed in the same direction. That is, the top thread |
| pattern represent different colors of floss. The stitcher | | | | of the X should always slant in the same direction (for |
| uses embroidery floss to place X's on the fabric | | | | example, "/"). It does not matter which way they slant, |
| corresponding to the symbols on the pattern. | | | | but if they are mixed the finished piece will look |
| To Begin, find the center of the graph. For most | | | | uneven. |
| patterns this is shown with arrows or a bold line. Next, | | | | Remember to relax as you stitch and do not pull the |
| find the center of your fabric. An easy way to do this | | | | thread too tight. Your stitches should lie flat on your |
| is to fold the fabric in half vertically and "pinch" with | | | | fabric and not distort the holes or the fabric. |
| your finger to make a small crease. Open the fabric, | | | | When your stitching is complete, wash in cool water |
| fold in half horizontally and make another "pinch". Open | | | | using a mild liquid detergent. Rinse well. Do not wring, |
| the fabric up. The two creases will mark the center of | | | | but roll in a clean towel to absorb most of the water. |
| the fabric. Most stitchers like to start cross stitching | | | | While still damp, place face down on a terry towel. |
| close to the center of the design in order to keep the | | | | Place another cloth on top of the needlework and |
| design centered on the fabric. This makes it easier to | | | | press lightly with a warm iron. Let dry. |