Cross stitch chart help!

[Seeline]

Self-taught beginner about to start my third project and there are some symbols in the chart I haven't come across before. I'm guessing that they mean I have to use two colours, but I'm not sure if I just have to mix a strand of each, or if I have to do two stitches in the square (although what type I don't know!). I attach a photo with example squares highlighted. It's an Anchor kit if that makes any difference. Any advice please?

[Seeline]

Won't let me attach the picture 😭

The chart shows for a single square a diagonal line with a different thread code each side. The diagonal line is left to right in some places and right to left in others.

[MrsJakeLovell]

I'm not an expert, but is this a 'half stitch' instruction? so half the stitch in each colour?

Sorry - it's been a long while since I've stitched!

[Cooper88]

That's a half stitch symbol so the top left is one stitch and the bottom right is another stitch.

[PrincessSarene]

Yes, that does sound like a half stitch. Are there instructions with the kit for what they expect you to do for a half stitch?

[Clutterbugsmum]

If it 2 colours then it will give the number of the colours to be used and how many threads of the colour. For example you may need 2 dark pink and 1 light pink, so you put them together and stitch them as 1 strand of cotton. Does that make sense.

[lockeddownnowheretogo]

I think you need to do two half stitches, each half in a different colour.
The different diagonal lines tell you which direction to split the square. You're dividing it into two triangles (like cutting sandwiches diagonally.
So if the diagonal line is top left to bottom right, you

1. Take the colour on the top/right side

a. do a diagonal line from top left to bottom right (come up through the fabric at the top left, then down through the bottom right);
b. then bring the thread up in the centre of the square (so through the hard bit right in the middle), then take it down through the top right corner. When you bring the thread up in the middle, bring it up just to the left of the diagonal, so you trap the diagonal under your stitch from middle to top right.
c. You should now have a half stitch on the top right.

1. Take the colour for the bottom left half stitch:

a. do the same diagonal line from top left to bottom right (come up through the fabric at the top left, then down through the bottom right);
b. then bring the thread up in the centre of the square, but this time take it down through the bottom left corner. When you bring the thread up in the middle, bring it up just to the right of the diagonal, so you trap thread underneath again.

You should have two triangle-y stitches making up the whole square, in two different colours.
Does it seem like that fits?

[Seeline]

Thank you for replying. That could work I think. Some only have one code so that would be a quarter stitch?

[Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench]

If it's one code but with half the square clear then it's still a half stitch, just follow whatever direction the slant is

[Seeline]

I think cooper88 has it. Plain half stitches are coded differently, so I think the two quarter stitches in different colours makes sense. Three-quarter stitches don't appear in the instructions at all. Thanks all 🙂

[lockeddownnowheretogo]

www.dmc.com/uk/p-cross-stitch-quick-stitch.html

This link looks quite helpful...have to admit I've not done quarter stitches myself....

My policy is just to make it look ok, even if it's not what was meant technically :D

[Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywench]

If it's in a row of full stitches it could be 3/4 stitches in 2 different colours. What do the instructions say on the chart? The guide usually says if it's 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4. It's not often that I've used a 1/4 stitch, but 3/4 seems more likely if the is a solid row of stitches otherwise the missing arm will be very obvious when you finish.

[Seeline]

The guide/instructions only refer to half stitches. Those are simply shown as a different code, dependant on colour. There is no diagonal for those. The problem one shows a single diagonal with usually different codes above and below, with some only having a single code above or below.

[Gingernaut]

This any use?

www.thesprucecrafts.com/two-symbols-in-a-square-cross-stitch-984207

[Gingernaut]

www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/fractional-stitches.html

[Seeline]

That last one was great - thank you🙂