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So you want to learn cross stitch!
Use Aida cloth for cross stitch– it’s especially woven with openings for your needle between threads. Your needle should not pierce the fabric, but instead pass through these regularly spaced openings. Fold the fabric in half twice to find the center.
Keep your fabric taut and square while working with an embroidery hoop– we recommend 6” size for most projects.
The hoop has a special lip to grip the fabric extra tight.
Place the solid round piece of the hoop behind the fabric with the lip facing up.
Seat the outer part of the hoop over the cloth and inner hoop. Loosen the screw at the top of the hoop until the outer hoop fits over the fabric and inner hoop.
Tighten the fabric in the embroidery hoop with the fold marks in the center. This is where you will make your first stitch. Pull the fabric taught in the hoop and tighten the adjustment screw as tightly as you can.
Embroidery floss is made up of six strands. You will not be using all six strands at once. To separate strands, cut an arm’s length of floss and hold with both hands at the midpoint.
Untwist the midpoint of floss and insert your thumbs between the strands, separating the quantity you will need (usually two or three) according to the pattern. Draw your thumbs apart along the length of floss, allowing floss ends to untwist freely.
Thread the needle with the number of strands your pattern calls for.
To start stitching, bring the needle from back to front and pull almost all the way through.
Leaving 1” of floss (the “tail") at the back. Hold this tail in the direction you will stitch and make a row of half Xs, being sure to wrap around the tail in the back, securing it. This way there are no knots at the back of your project, ensuring it will lay flat on the mounting surface.
It’s important to wash your hands often while working, as your skin’s natural oils may mark the fabric, especially where it bends over the rim of the hoop. You may wish to fold the excess fabric over the rim while working so your skin is only ever in contact with the back side of the fabric.
If your fabric does get “hoop marks,” hand wash in warm water with a small amount of color-safe detergent. Rinse first in warm water, then cold. Even your floss colors bleed into the water, they will not stain the cloth. Lay on a towel to dry. Iron your project between two towels with low heat.
