Getting Started

Cross stitch is a relaxing, mindful hobby that helps you let go of stress and increase focus. A perfect alternative for those looking to cut down their screen time, cross stitch is convenient in a lot of ways: it’s cheap, highly portable, and has something for everyone in terms of patterns and colors. Gone are the days of kittens and sailboats and other boring, grandma-approved designs: our cross stitch patterns feature bright colors, punk-rock inspired imagery, and stuff you’d actually want to hang in your living room.

This tutorial will walk you through all the steps necessary to get the most out of your new hobby, from separating your thread to the best ways to display your finished work.

How to Measure & Cut Cross Stitch Fabric

Cross stitching is typically done on a specific type of fabric called Aida, a stiff cotton woven with a natural grid pattern. The grid forms the basis for your stitching, controlling the height and width of your stitches to keep them naturally neat and uniform. There are other alternative fabrics out there, but for now we'll focus solely on Aida.

This cloth comes in different "counts" or gauges that determine the size of your stitches and of your overall finished piece. The numbers indicate the number of squares per inch: 14 count Aida has 14 squares per inch, 22 count has 22 squares per inch, etc. So a smaller number = bigger stitches and a bigger finished piece, and vice versa.  For beginning stitchers we recommend starting with a count of 11, 14, or 16. For reference, all our patterns are stitched on either 16 count or 14 count fabric.

Once you've chosen the count that works best for you, you'll need to measure and cut your fabric to fit the pattern you're working on. The easiest way to determine how much fabric you need is to use a stitch calculator like this one. Enter the number of stitches in your pattern and voila, the calculator tells you how much fabric you'll need. This particular calculator adds 2" extra fabric to each side of your design by default—feel free to add to that if you like, but I don't recommend lowering it. That extra fabric around your piece is vital when it comes time to frame it.

Cutting & Separating Floss

To cut your thread to a working length, pull it gently from the skein so it doesn't tangle and measure a length a little longer than your forearm. I usually measure mine from my wrist to a couple inches past my elbow—this gives me about as much thread as I can comfortably stitch with. If it's much longer than this you risk it knotting up on you while you're working.

Once your thread is cut, you need to separate it: embroidery floss comes in six strands, and you really never use all six at once for cross stitching. Usually 2 or 3 strands works best, depending on how plush you want your stitches to look and how much coverage you want to have on your fabric (see example at right).

To separate it, gently grasp the however many strands you’re using in one hand and the rest of the strands in the other. Slowly pull the two bunches straight out and away from each other, giving the floss a chance to unwind—if you do this too quickly your floss will knot up, rendering it unusable. Be sure to keep the unused strands with the rest of the skein/bobbin so you can use them in the future.

Get Stitchin'

Alright, you've got your fabric, you've got your thread, and you're ready for action! Take your fabric and fold it in half horizontally, creasing the center as you do so. Then fold it in half vertically and do the same thing again: this marks the center of your fabric so you'll know where to start stitching. You can also mark this spot lightly with a pencil or embroidery transfer pen if you want. If you're using guide lines, apply them now using a water soluble pen or pencil. 

If you're using a hoop or a scroll/snap frame, now is the time to equip it by centering your fabric in the frame and making sure it's taught. But here's a secret: Aida fabric is pretty stiff, and it really doesn't require a hoop to work it. I rarely use one, because without a hoop, I can bend the fabric slightly for blazing fast stitching. This is entirely down to personal preference though, so you should stitch in whichever way you're most comfortable. Experiment with and without a hoop to get a feel for what you like best!

Here's another secret: you don't need to tie a knot in the end of your thread. Just leave a 1” tail hanging from the back side of the fabric, and hold the tail in place while you complete the first few stitches. Once you’ve got a few stitches in place you can let go and the thread will stay put. Later you can clip the tail shorter if you want, but be sure to leave at least ¼”. Less than that and you risk it pulling through the fabric and unravelling all your hard work.

Once you've got your needle threaded and your fabric prepped, you're ready to start: