Hi there!
If you're on this page, you've decided to pick up cross-stitching as a hobby: hurray!
In this guide, we'll take you through the steps of your first cross-stitch piece, from gathering materials to completing your first project. Don't worry if you're new to this—cross-stitching is perfect for beginners like you. So, let's gather our supplies, unleash our creativity, and embark on this wonderful adventure of cross-stitching together!
Step 1 - Gather Your Materials
First things first, let's gather all the materials you'll need to get started with cross-stitching. You'll need:
- Cross-stitch fabric (like Aida cloth)
- An embroidery hoop
- Embroidery needles (size 24 or 26)
- Embroidery floss in different colors (my patterns use DMC floss)
- Scissors
- Cross-stitch pattern or design
- Water-soluble fabric marker or pencil (optional)
- Tapestry needle for finishing (optional)
All embroidery kits on my site come with the essentials included and the floss presorted.
Step 2 - Prepare the Fabric
Take your chosen fabric and fold it twice, to find the center of the fabric. Mark it or place a needle at the center to mark the center. Then, place the fabric in the embroidery hoop. Make sure it's nice and taut, but don't stretch it too much. Tighten the hoop's screw to hold the fabric in place and voila: you're ready to start stitching.
Take your chosen fabric and fold it twice, to find the center of the fabric. Mark it or place a needle at the center to mark the center. Then, place the fabric in the embroidery hoop. Make sure it's nice and taut, but don't stretch it too much. Tighten the hoop's screw to hold the fabric in place and voila: you're ready to start stitching.
Step 3 - Thread the Needle
Now, let's thread the needle. Choose an embroidery floss color and separate the strands. Depending on the size of your Aida, you may need one strand of floss, or more. Thread the floss through the eye of your embroidery needle, leaving a bit of length to keep the floss secure in your needle.
Now, let's thread the needle. Choose an embroidery floss color and separate the strands. Depending on the size of your Aida, you may need one strand of floss, or more. Thread the floss through the eye of your embroidery needle, leaving a bit of length to keep the floss secure in your needle.
Step 4 - Creating the Stitches
Cross-stitch is named cross-stitch because it's made up of two diagonal stitches that form an "X." Straightforward, right? The stitches are usually made from left to right or top to bottom. Try to make sure all your stitches face the same direction, this will help make your finished piece look more polished.
Cross-stitch is named cross-stitch because it's made up of two diagonal stitches that form an "X." Straightforward, right? The stitches are usually made from left to right or top to bottom. Try to make sure all your stitches face the same direction, this will help make your finished piece look more polished.
Step 5 - Getting Started
Now it's time to start stitching! Take a look at your cross-stitch pattern or design and find the center. Begin by bringing the needle up through the fabric from the back, starting at the center point indicated in your design.
To make your first diagonal stitch, insert the needle from the front to the back, forming the first half of the "X." Then, bring the needle back up through the fabric to complete the second half of the "X." When starting your stitch, leave a small tail of floss so you can stitch over and secure your stitch.
Now it's time to start stitching! Take a look at your cross-stitch pattern or design and find the center. Begin by bringing the needle up through the fabric from the back, starting at the center point indicated in your design.
To make your first diagonal stitch, insert the needle from the front to the back, forming the first half of the "X." Then, bring the needle back up through the fabric to complete the second half of the "X." When starting your stitch, leave a small tail of floss so you can stitch over and secure your stitch.
Step 6 - Follow the Pattern
Continue stitching, following the instructions on your pattern. Use different colors of embroidery floss as indicated. Remember to check the pattern key to know which colors correspond to the symbols on the pattern.
Continue stitching, following the instructions on your pattern. Use different colors of embroidery floss as indicated. Remember to check the pattern key to know which colors correspond to the symbols on the pattern.
Step 7 - Finishing a Thread
When you reach the end of a thread or need to switch colors, it's time to secure the thread at the back of the fabric. Run the needle under several stitches on the backside to secure it, and then trim any excess thread.
When you reach the end of a thread or need to switch colors, it's time to secure the thread at the back of the fabric. Run the needle under several stitches on the backside to secure it, and then trim any excess thread.
Step 8 - Final Touches
You're almost done! Before backing your piece, you can (optionally) remove the fabric from the hoop and give it a gentle rinse to remove any water-soluble marker or pencil marks if you used them. Let it air dry, and then iron it on the reverse side (without the hoop) to smooth out any wrinkles.
You're almost done! Before backing your piece, you can (optionally) remove the fabric from the hoop and give it a gentle rinse to remove any water-soluble marker or pencil marks if you used them. Let it air dry, and then iron it on the reverse side (without the hoop) to smooth out any wrinkles.
Step 9 - Display or Finish
Now it's time to decide how you want to display or use your completed cross-stitch project. You can frame it, or finish it in the hoop with a felt backing.
To finish the stitch with felt, take your completed cross-stitch project still in the embroidery hoop, making sure the design is centered and adjusted to your liking. Once you're satisfied with the placement, use a pair of scissors to trim the excess fabric, leaving a margin of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) around the hoop. Use a running stitch to gather the fabric.
Then, lay your embroidery on top of the felt fabric. Use a pen or pencil to trace around the outer edge of the hoop onto the felt. Cut out the circle along the traced line, this will be the backing for your hoop.
Place the felt on your embroidery hoop and attach it using a blanket stitch, stitching through the embroidery fabric and the felt. This will give you a neat finish while hiding the edges of the embroidery fabric that we gathered earlier.
Now it's time to decide how you want to display or use your completed cross-stitch project. You can frame it, or finish it in the hoop with a felt backing.
To finish the stitch with felt, take your completed cross-stitch project still in the embroidery hoop, making sure the design is centered and adjusted to your liking. Once you're satisfied with the placement, use a pair of scissors to trim the excess fabric, leaving a margin of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) around the hoop. Use a running stitch to gather the fabric.
Then, lay your embroidery on top of the felt fabric. Use a pen or pencil to trace around the outer edge of the hoop onto the felt. Cut out the circle along the traced line, this will be the backing for your hoop.
Place the felt on your embroidery hoop and attach it using a blanket stitch, stitching through the embroidery fabric and the felt. This will give you a neat finish while hiding the edges of the embroidery fabric that we gathered earlier.
Et voila, congratulations on completing your first cross-stitch project! Now all you need to think about is finding a place to proudly display your finished piece. Have fun & happy cross-stitching!