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Cross stitch kit help please!

16 replies

CleanQueen123 · 25/01/2021 19:12

So I bought myself a cross stitch kit to stave off boredom in the evenings and foolishly assumed it would come with the pattern marked out as I bought one for beginners.

But it hasn't. It's come with some not especially clear instructions and the chart in the attached photo.

How on earth do I translate what's on the chart to the fabric?

And the fabric is obviously larger than the hoop. Am I meant to move the fabric around or just sew within the hoop if that makes sense?

Cross stitch kit help please!
OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 25/01/2021 19:17

You've bought a counted cross stitch kit I think; there are various YouTube tutorials to get you started. Good luck!

Caaarrrl · 25/01/2021 19:25

You need to find the middle of the chart and the middle of the aida. You complete sections following the symbols on the chart for colours. The hoop will need to be moved as you complete sections. Install use a highlighter or pencil to colour in which bits I have done. Its all about counting the squares.

Caaarrrl · 25/01/2021 19:26
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CrochetBug · 25/01/2021 19:32

Find the centre of the fabric and the centre of the pattern. Then count however many squares over/up/down to find a sensible starting point. Then you just have to count how many stitches in each row and work your way along. Each symbol will correspond to a different colour thread. Colour in each row in the pattern as you finish it so you know where you've got to.

I never use a hoop unless its to frame a finished piece. They stretch the fabric and distort it.

CleanQueen123 · 25/01/2021 19:32

Oh no! I thought I'd bought something relatively simple. It looks so pretty on the packet. And implies that it fits within the hoop without you needing to move the fabric around.

I'll see if I can find some helpful YouTube videos. I've got no idea where to start. The middle of the chart is a blank square

Cross stitch kit help please!
OP posts:
CrochetBug · 25/01/2021 19:36

Count across from the blank square in the center to somewhere where there is a stitch
If for eg its 5 stitches to the left and 3 up then count the same on the fabric and thats where you start.

WeeDangerousSpike · 25/01/2021 19:37

OK. You need to find the centre of the fabric, you can mark it with a little bit of running stitch with cotton or a bit of the embroidery silk, just a little so you can find the centre again. See those little arrows on the edge of the pattern? They mark the middle of the pattern. Put your hoop on the fabric and you'll start embroidering from the middle of the picture, that will ensure your finished embroidery is in the centre and you don't end up going off the edge!

Each little square on the pattern is one cross shaped stitch. You'll also have a list of which shape = which colour. The easiest way to keep track if you don't have a pre printed thread holder in the pack is to get a bit of card, like the side of a tissue box, and punch holes in it with a hole punch. Then you can loop each colour through a hole and draw the corresponding symbol against it.

Read the instructions and check how many strands you should be using for the sewing, it's usually 2 or 3, there's 6 strands in each thick strand as it comes in the pack.

The easiest way to keep track of what you have done and where you are is to cross through the stitches you have done with a hilighter.

Dont tie a knot to start off with, just leave a tail on the back and then sew over it as you do the next stitches to hold it in place. The stitches you do in the front / right side will be diagonal, to make the crosses. The ones on the back / wrong side should all be horizontal or vertical. That will mean your finished work lies flat when you frame it with no lumps and bumps. It takes a bit of planning to work out how to sort of navigate around with only horizontal or vertical stitches on the back, but you'll get the hang of it really quickly. Once you've got the first bit started, you can weave the start of the next silk into the back of the stitches you've already done.

If you are using an even number of threads can fold the silk in half to double it up, and have the loop on the long end, when you do the first stitch you can put the needle through the loop on the back to hold it in place rather than weaving it in.

On the hoop, put it over the centre, when you've filled in all the hooped area, take it off and move it. Be careful not to tighten it too much on top of stitches you've done or it may squash them. You can wrap some scrap (white) fabric round it to act as a bit of a cushion if you like.

choppolata · 25/01/2021 19:42

The charts aren't always the same size as the actual embroidery. I'd start with the stalk of the big cactus.

WeeDangerousSpike · 25/01/2021 19:48

To add, if you use a bit of stitching to mark the centre, once you've got a real cross stitch on the fabric you need to pull the marker stitch out, so you don't end up accidentally sewing into it and make it impossible to pull out. Its literally there so you can find your place to start.

You've said the centre is a blank square. The closest stitch to the centre is one square to the right, so find the centre of your fabric, then count one square to the right and start sewing there.

Your pattern has quire a lot of blank space (that's good, it'll be finished quicker!) so don't be tempted to have the thread on the back traversing those blank spaces, when it's framed you'll be able to see the thread through the little holes on the blank bits.

It is a simple one, don't panic!

Oh, make sure your crosses all go the same way! So the top stitch of the cross is always bottom left to top right for instance, if some are one way and some are the other it will look messy in the finished work.

CleanQueen123 · 25/01/2021 20:01

Thanks everyone. It feels slightly less overwhelming now.

I might have to run an iron over the fabric and start it tomorrow evening. It was folded up in the kit so it's creased and not especially easy to flatten and work out where the middle is.

The thread has come in the pre printed holder so I know which thread goes where. I just couldn't figure out how to start it.

For some reason I really did think the ones for beginners would come with the pattern marked on them and you'd just stitch over it.

OP posts:
CrochetBug · 25/01/2021 20:03

I think the ones with the pattern printed on are called printed cross stitch. But I can see why it's confusing for a beginner!

WeeDangerousSpike · 25/01/2021 20:04

Tapestry comes with the pattern printed on. I can do cross stitch in my sleep, but tapestry I find really hard!

archery50 · 25/01/2021 20:14

I pretty much guessed the middle by folding the fabric in half in both directions. Probably not the most accurate way but mine has plenty of white border either side and I don't think I'd notice a square or two off centre

CleanQueen123 · 25/01/2021 20:24

The fabric is quite a bit bigger than the hoop so folding it in half is probably as good a way as any to find the middle.

I'm sure once I get started I'll enjoy it. It's a bit like writing one blank page. You just need to bite the bullet and get going Grin

Thanks for the advice all! I'll post a picture if I manage to finish it.

OP posts:
CrochetBug · 25/01/2021 20:33

Folding the fabric in half to find the centre is how my Grandma taught me to do it. Its never occurred to me to do anything else!

WeeDangerousSpike · 25/01/2021 21:29

Absolutely fold it to find the centre, it'll be close enough!

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