by Elizabeth Curtis

Created on: July 23, 2008

Cross stitch is a needle craft which can range in difficulty from a basic one-color design to extremely complex works of art containing a seemingly endless variety of colors and color blends. Cross stitch is worked by transferring a picture from a grid onto blank fabric. Symbols on the grid indicate which thread or floss colors are to be used where. Each box on the grid represents one stitch or "X" on the fabric.

The first consideration when choosing and using a cross stitch pattern should be whether it appeals to you. Do you like the design? Are the colors attractive to you? Cross stitch projects can take a long time to complete. You do not want to be staring at a picture or color you dislike for that long. There are many patterns to choose from, so you might as well find one you'll enjoy spending time with.

Next, make sure you pay attention to the size and difficulty of the pattern. There is a world of difference between committing to a Christmas ornament with simple forty by forty stitch grid and a reproduction of a famous painting that has a multi-page pattern 400 stitches across by 500 stitches down.

The method used to notate the colors in the pattern can also make a difference to how easily the pattern can be worked. Some patterns use only black and white symbols to represent the colors while others may also use different colors in combination with various symbols to indicate the colors to be used.

Once you have decided on a pattern and have gathered your supplies, it is time to begin creating your cross stitch creation. Patterns usually have the center indicated by arrows on the outside edge. If you follow those arrows to where they meet, you will find the center of the project. I find it useful to color this crossing with a highlighter to make it easier to find. You must now find the center of your fabric. Fold the cloth into quarters to find the center. I usually stick my needle in the center hole of the fabric, so that I still know where it is when I unfold.

Choose a floss color that is close to the middle and begin working the cross stitches called for in the pattern. There are many different techniques and preferences as to how to best complete the work and your style will develop as you go along. Each cross stitch is made of a / and a \ stitch. It is important to make sure that the stitches are as identical as possible and the back does not have any loose threads or threads carried from one section to another that are visible from the front of the design. A good way to ensure this uniformity is to work a row of one color in one direction at a time. For example, you first work the first half of all the stitches in the row / / / / / before returning back the other direction to complete the cross X X X X X.

Start with the simplest pattern you can find, preferably a small pattern with only one so that you can get used to counting the number of stitches as you transfer them to the fabric. You can color in each stitch with a pencil to show that you have already completed that stitch. Once all the grid blocks have been interpreted in thread, your cross stitch pattern is complete.

Using cross stitch patterns can be great fun. If you enjoy puzzles, you will surely enjoy watching a picture emerge on fabric as you add more and more stitches.

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