How to cross stitch - a beginner`s guide

How to cross stitch - a beginner’s guide
Cross stitch is one of the easiest crafts out there - it’s quick to learn and should provide instant gratification! You’ll be making
something pretty and saying “I did that!” before you know it. Bobo Stitch designs are counted cross stitch which means you follow a
pattern on paper rather than printed cross stitch where the design is pre-printed on the fabric for you to stitch over.
Your needle
The needle supplied is the correct size and shape for the project that you have ordered. It has a blunt end and a reasonably large eye.
To thread your needle, loop the threads over the eye, pinch tight, slide the needle out from between your fingers and push the pinched
thread through the eye. Alternately you can just push the ends of the thread through the eye directly, but try not to moisten the ends
as it can damage the thread. You should pull a good four to six inch tail through the eye to prevent you losing the thread whilst
stitching.
Your threads
Cross stitch threads, or floss as they are sometimes called, are effectively your ink to the fabric’s paper. They
come bundled as six single threads together. Usually you will use only two threads to make cross stitches
and one for back stitch. Occasionally this will differ in our designs, but this will be clearly stated within the
pattern.
Separate the six threads into the number of strands that you require and realign them at the top so you are ready
to thread your needle. Do this only as and when you need the threads, to prevent them tangling in storage. Cut
about a 24 inch length of thread each time. Once you have threaded your needle and left your six inch tail, you
will have about an 18 inch length of thread to work with. Any shorter and you will be starting and stopping
frequently. Any longer and you will get tangled. Experiment to get the right length of thread for you.
Your fabric
This is a weaved fabric full of holes arranged in a grid pattern. You will use these holes to guide the needle through the fabric to
create your image. Common fabrics used in cross stitch are Aida and linen. Aida is easier for beginners to get to grips with but linen
allows a finer finish.
Aida
Aida is weaved with multiple threads in the grid and is described in ‘counts’ which basically describes
the number of cross stitches (or little x’s!) that fit in to an inch vertically or horizontally. So on a 14
count Aida, you get 14 stitches per inch. The higher the count, the more stitches and so generally the
more detailed the image can become. In Aida, you stitch in every hole as shown here.
Linen
Linen is weaved with single thread to create the grid and it can be used to get very
fine detail, or as a finer backing cloth. So for example you can get 28 count linen, where the stitches
would be very tiny, but generally when using linen you stitch across two squares at a time (stitching
every other hole) effectively giving you the same result as a 14 count Aida.
Your pattern
The pattern is printed on a grid, which represents the fabric. The stitch colours
are replaced by symbols, like this: A key to the symbols and their matching colours
will be found at the end of the pattern. The key also tells you how many strands
to use in that colour for both cross stitch and back stitch. If there is no symbol in
a square there is no stitch there! The pattern may be printed across several pages
to make it easier to see. Where this occurs we have provided an ‘overlap’ section
printed in grey to show where the two sections join - don’t stitch it twice! The
centre point of the design will also be marked on the pattern showing you the best
place to start.
And so we begin...
Start in the middle! You can do this by folding your fabric in half lengthways and across the width. Where the four way crease
appears is the centre of your fabric. Find the centre of the pattern using the markers provided. Thread your needle with the
colour of the central stitch and get going!
Your stitches
To start, push your needle through one of the holes in the fabric and leave about a two inch tail of thread behind the fabric.
This will anchor the thread to prevent it coming loose later. No knots are used in cross stitch as they will make the finished
project lumpy.
Cross stitch
Cross stitch is as it sounds, two diagonal stitches that cross over to make an x shape. When you are creating the stitch it
doesn’t matter whether the bottom or top stitch runs bottom right to top left or vice versa, as long as you stick to which ever
you prefer for the whole project. You can stitch right to left, left to right or up and down. It doesn’t matter. Try to stitch in the
same way throughout the project as this will give a neater finish.
If you are working from left to right, count the number of cross stitches in your current thread colour that there are from the centre
point. Make this number of diagonal stitches. If left like this,these stitches are known as ‘half stitches’.
Turn the fabric over occasionally whilst making those first few stitches to make sure that you are catching the tail of the thread under
the stitches to secure it (as shown here).
Then come back with the opposite diagonal. Not only have you completed some cross stitches, but you have produced some very neat
stitches on the back of the fabric too, which can be important if it is exposed.
Half stitches
Catching the thread
Completed cross stitches
Three quarter cross stitch
These can be used to add definition to a design where a full cross stitch would look too square. You stitch
one half stitch and then a quarter stitch to create a triangle shape. The quarter stitch is begun as if you were
going to complete a full cross stitch, but you stop half way across and finish the stitch in the centre of the x.
When using Aida fabric, you will need to push the needle through the fabric itself. When using linen there is a
hole in the centre of each x that you can use to complete the quarter stitch. Three quarter stitches can be
stitched in four directions as illustrated. On your pattern, three quarter stitches will be indicated by triangles
which will contain the correct colour symbol. The direction of the triangle indicates the direction of the
three quarter stitch.
Back stitch
Back stitch is often used to add definition, or text onto stitching. It produces straight lines
vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Back stitches are usually short stitches across one
square at a time. You bring the needle up through the fabric, make one straight stitch
backwards, then pass the needle up through the fabric, two squares away forwards,
going back down through the fabric through the hole where you originally came up
for the first stitch.
Back stitch continued
In this way you progress around your outline, in a ‘two steps forwards, one backwards’ fashion. Don’t pull these stitches too tightly, or
it might warp your fabric. Back stitch is usually completed using only one thread. Where this is not the case, it will be marked on your
pattern. Backstitch is indicated on your pattern with single straight lines.
Straight stitch
Ironically, given its name, this can be used to create curved lines useful for definition of less angular items
or to create flower stems or grass etc. It is a straight stitch that may go across several squares, starting or
finishing either in one of the fabrics holes, or pushed through the Aida as happens with a three quarter stitch.
Securing the thread
When you have finished a section, or if you are running out of thread, pass the needle under
three or four stitches on the reverse of the fabric to catch and secure it in place.
Remember, no knots are used in cross stitch. Cut off any excess thread close to the fabric.
Finishing
Once you have completed all the stitching you should wash your finished article carefully by hand in cold water. The threads we use are
colour-fast and so should not bleed into each other or your fabric, but if you are nervous you can press some damp kitchen towel on
top of the stitches on the reverse of the fabric. If any colour transfers to the kitchen towel then please contact us for advice. Once
washed, leave the article to dry on a flat surface and then press whilst still a little damp, in between two clean tea towels.
Instructions for any further ‘making up’, within our cushion cover range for example, will be found within your pattern.
Things to note
In our designs you will often find blocks of the same colour that are either separated by blank fabric or another colour. You should
aways fasten off the thread securely, cut and restart for each block, rather than just stretch the thread along the back of the fabric.
This prevents any kind of colour ‘show through’ in your finished article.
If you have made a mistake don’t worry. Use your needle to unpick the stitches and rectify the mistake. The thread should be fine to
reuse, but if not we always provide a little extra just in case.
Some stitchers choose to use a hoop or a frame to keep an even tension on their fabric whilst they are stitching, which can create a
neater finish. This isn’t essential, so use one or not, whichever you prefer. They are available from all good craft shops and of course,
the world wide web. You can also get all sorts of other lovely stitching accessories like gorgeous sewing boxes to keep all your projects
neat and tidy, day light lamps, to help you see more clearly whilst stitching during the evening, magnifying glasses and loads of other
bits should your BoBo Stitch project have given you the stitching bug!
And finally... Good luck, enjoy it and we hope you love your finished article. BoBo Stitch x