Cross stitch for beginners

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Hi!

I've had a go at cross stitch before, but we are talking a good 10 years when I would sit and do it with nan when I was ill or something! But i really want to have a proper go now I could do my own thing.

Would there be any suggestions on where to start or any recommendations of kits that come with instructions? I had a little look in sainsburys for any magazines but not sure if they are any good?

I started with Cross Stitcher magazine, partly because I liked the designs, partly because of the free mini kit with that issue, but they have a good basic guide at the back of every issue, so plenty to get you started. As far as other starter kits go, I'd suggest you avoid big complex pictures to start off with as they are daunting - depends on your taste, but I like What Delilah Did for gorgeous vintagey designs in one colour. There are other more colourful designers - again, I just looked in the magazine for the designers of the patterns that most appealed to me, then googled them to get more. Enjoy - it's a very absorbing, relaxing hobby.

I used to like Cross Stitcher magazine but they changed editor 2 editions ago and it has gone wrong already IMO. But it is a good starting point, the current edition has everything you need to make a Christmas decoration.
Anyway it really depends on your taste.
Have a look and Stitchrovia and Satsuma Street on Etsy.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with starting really simple, as I found I got bored with easy pictures! I used to like Lavender & Lace designs when I was first starting out, but had already done a couple of cat pictures which almost drove me to insanity - row after row after row of black stitches that seemed to go forever! Lavender & Lace were bigger and more interesting and colourful, and if you can make one cross the method is pretty much the same whether you're doing big colourful picture or a small one. It's really easy once you get the hang of it.

I now do much bigger pictures (my current project is 260,000 stitches!) and have got my last couple of patterns from Scarlet Quince in America (ordered online and come in the post a few days later).

This is my current project Job Lot Cheap

Wow doistay how long will that take you?

Thank you :) I will check those out! That's amazing doistay, how long did it take?

I'm still working on it, hoping to be finished by Christmas. Not sure how long it's taken, as I've had it on the go for a few years, but had a break of nearly a year where I didn't really touch it. Now I'm really trying to get it finished it's going quite quickly.

One tip is to photocopy your pattern and even enlarge it if it makes it easier to see, and then colour in the squares with a felt tip once you've done a section - much easier to keep track of where you've been, and easier to spot if you make a mistake too.

Scarlet Quince also has some really good tutorials an a forum/gallery. Also have a look on Sewandso website, as they have a good selection of patterns and kits, and delivery really quickly.

I use Bothy Threads kits for my cross stitch kits, threads are pre-sorted and the charts are very clear. Also their customer service is excellent - i emailed a query yesterday at 10.56am and had a reply by 11.05am. They are also happy to replace items that get lost, or send extra if needed for free.

Etsy has some fun cross stitch kits. :)

I've just taken up cross stitch again after an eight year gap. I got Cross Stitcher and Cross Stitch Crazy magazines and found them good, it depends what style you like though as a lot of the designs are quite cutesy. Those ones are not really to my taste but still found a few charts in each mag that I would sew.
I'm planning to sew some Christmas cards and decorations but for now my first project in years is a free chart from Satsuma Street, as I really like the modern, colourful designs.
I bought threads etc from Sew and Sew and it seemed quite good value. It is a cheap hobby compared to some and I find it relaxing. I am very slow to finish things though so I tend to pick smaller pieces to do.