Cross stitch newbie - any tips?

[madhairday]

Hello. I have some time on my hands at the moment recuperating and am hoping to do a cross stitch for my new godson's christening. Have got this one which I realise is somewhat ambitious for a novice. I have done cross stitch in the past but never consistently so could do with some tips to get started. Had a go last night but it was a bit messy tbh - the stitches were too tight I think? Also, the kit says to start in the centre but there is no design in the actual centre so where do I start, as near the centre as possible?

Would you recommend using some kind of frame or hoop?

I'm looking forward to getting stuck in but don't want to make a cock up of it so thought I would prepare myself as best as I can first, so thanks for any help.

yes start as near as possible to the centre as you can. try and count the stitches and spaces to make sure you have enough room.

for a larger piece i sometimes tack a red thread thru bother centre lines of the fabric and then draw a red line thru centre of the pattern to make sure i am following it.

if its really complex i tack a grid pattern about an inch wide all over and the same on the pattern.

Yes, definitely start as near to the centre as you can. I would also highly recommend using a hoop to keep the fabric taut - this will make your stitches more even and less likely to be too tight.

It's a lovely design - hope you enjoy doing it!

Take the time to make sure all your stitches are going in the same direction:

/////
/////
/////

looks a lot neater than:

/\/
//
\//

I would use a frame rather than a hoop. That way you don't mash-up any of your completed stitches.

For that pattern I'd use a frame, and start stitching the M first. Then I would do N O Owl. Then L K Puddleduck. Then the rest of the letters. Then finish the borders. I'd do center top and center bottom last as they look to have enough space around them to hide a miscount or two.

If you do make a mistake look at it very carefully before you rip out your stitches. It's often easy to add or drop a stitch elsewhere to fix it for less work, and no one who doesn't have the pattern in front of them will be able to tell

Drop your needle every fifteen or twenty stitches so the floss can untwist. I also recommend railroading. It really makes a difference to the look.

Thank you for your replies. Mary can I be v thick and ask what you mean by 'drop your needle?' I think I get the railroading thing.
Thanks also for advice re where to start and where to carry on to, v helpful.
Looking into frames now, can't wait to get into it.

Let it dangle under the fabric, you'll see the needle spin a bit. As you stitch, your hand will tend to give the thread a twist, this lets it untwist. Before I found this out my thread was forever knotting itself behind the fabric. I'd discover it ten stitches on, terribly frustrating. Now I only pull the needle far enough to get to the next stitch, leaving most of the thread on the right side where I can keep an eye on it.

And dangle dangle dangle