Getting Started
Begin your cross stitch project from the center of your fabric. Fold the fabric in half twice to find the center at the intersection of the folds. Similarly, locate the center of your chart by following the arrows at the top center and middle left side. The point where they intersect is your starting point.
Fabric
To protect your fabric from oils and moisture, place tissue paper in your hoop, tearing away the center where you’ll be stitching. Experiment with different fabric qualities: use cheaper fabric for quick projects and save high-quality fabric for heirloom pieces. Ensure you have 3 to 4 inches of fabric on each side of your design for easy framing.
Threads
When stitching with two threads, use one strand of floss, fold it, and thread both ends through the needle, leaving a loop. Secure the loop with your second stitch to prevent bumps. Match colors when ending your thread by running it under other stitches—never run dark colors under light ones as they may show through.
Needles
Avoid leaving needles in the fabric after your session to prevent stains or holes. Always store needles properly.
Tips
Store your threads, needles, and scissors in a securely closing box to keep your cross stitch materials safe from pets and children. Invest in stretcher bars for larger projects to prevent fabric warping and make sewing easier. Highlight completed areas with a light-colored highlighter, such as yellow. If yellow is hard to see at night, opt for other colors like green, blue, or orange.
Following these cross stitch tips will keep your projects organized and enjoyable. Happy stitching!