Starting counting cross stich - any tips for a novice?

[BaleOfHay]

I've just bought this Emily Peacock cross stich kit with the intention of creating a cushion: https://www.emilypeacock.com/shop/fe

I've done very basic cross stick before, but only on printed canvasses (and it was a million years ago...). Any tips before I attempt to get started - need to harness the new year motivation!!

Felicity is glorious!
I’ve no advice, just following for tips.

In a fit of boredom, I just bought myself a kit that I’m too scared to open yet. I can barely sew a button on, so I’m not sure what I was thinking.
It doesn’t help that my mother is a member of the embroiderer’s guild. haha!

I have been cross stitching for more years than I care to remember and the key things to remember is if you can count you can cross stitch and no matter how big or small the design just take it one stitch at a time. If you make a mistake and catch it early then unpick. If a bit late you can almost always fudge it a bit. Most of all have fun! For me it is the nicest, most relaxing activity.

Oh and cross stitch is the only sewing I can do so don’t worry if you can’t do any other type. Cross stitch is really simple

Don’t do one cross, then another cross. Do half of each cross all away along a line, then go back and “cross” them.

This might be obvious to everyone else but I was doing a cross, then a cross at first - it used way too much thread and made for a bulky mess on the back.

Don't make any knots when you need to change threads, just sew loose ends under one or two previous stitches on the back and snip.

Felicity will be a great one to start with as blocks of colour so no constantly changing threads :)

Ahhh, this is good, thank you, I now understand what the hell mother was trying to tell me. You explained it much better!

Because its entirely covered with thread, pencil draw onto the material. Maybe draw out blocks of 20×20 "squares" and then do the same on the pattern itself. Once you've gridded out the whole bit of material, pick a 20x20 square and do just that one.

Make sure all your first stitches go in the same direction, so all go bottom left to top right for example.

Having them all going in different directions really notices in the final piece!

Oh and ALWAYS start in the middle (if the picture isn't printed on the material) otherwise you could end up with uneven margins.

Fabulous tips, thank you!

Don't skip too many gaps. You can get away with a 4 square gap but thereafter it just makes a mess on the back. Tie off and start again.

Learn the loop trick with 1 thread for an easy start off. Most cross' require a 2 strand thread so take 1 strand, fold it in half and thread. That way you already have a loop to tie off the 1st stitch.

It really is just counting. 1 line at a time forwards and back. Especially with a bulky pattern like that. It'll be very therapeutic.

Don’t use pencil, it often doesn’t wash out. I have a blue water soluble pen that I use.

Find the centre by gently folding your canvas in half then half again & then run a bit of thread through the tiny hole in the corner
and use a frame to keep it steady so you don’t pull it out of shape by holding the canvas while you work
(the frames on stands are really good and you can sew with one hand above and the other below, so you don’t flex the canvas too much)

These are great tips. There are also loads of YouTube videos for new starters and more experienced cross stitchers. They have their own name for it Flosstubers