Source: https://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/how-to-cross-stitch/

This guide is written by Rachel Walker from The Brodrick Design Studio, London.   Rachel teaches sewing, dressmaking and cross stitch classes in London. She also designs contemporary cross stitch patterns and kits, inspired by vintage and retro styles. You can visit her website for guides, patterns, kits and read her blog for sewing and stitching inspiration at: www.thebrodrickdesignstudio.co.uk

HOW TO CROSS STITCH

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Learn cross stitch
Getting started with cross stitch
To find the centre of the Aida fabric, fold the fabric in half and then in half again. Mark the centre point with a needle. Cut 1 m of thread and separate the strands according to the pattern instructions and thread through the eye of the needle.

Start your first cross stitch at the top of the design (top left if you are right- handed and top right if you are left-handed). This way, as you continue to cross stitch you will not rub your hand over existing stitches. Use the centre point of the pattern to count the number of squares (each one represents a stitch) to the top starting point of the pattern.

At the end of every cross stitch row, release the needle (let it hang freely) so the thread can unwind – this will prevent knots forming. When creating a half stitch or completing a full stitch, stop pulling the thread through the fabric when you feel resistance. This keeps the tension loose and creates more even looking stitches.

TIP: Stitch with clean hands and avoid applying hand cream as this can mark the fabric.

Stitch types
Full cross stitches


Bring the needle up through the back of the Aida, leaving about 2 cm of thread behind (A). Next, take the needle back down through the Aida, creating a diagonal half-stitch (B). Then bring the needle back up through the Aida (C), making sure that the remaining 2 cm of thread at the back is held in place (D, reverse view).

Continue until you have completed all the half stitches in the row (E). Then go back to create full stitches (F, G). Try to follow this same process, so that the stitches are uniform in direction.


Continue to stitch until you have finished the motif. At the end of the last cross stitch, the needle should be at the back of the fabric. To secure the last cross stitch, thread the needle through the back of 4 – 6 stitches and cut off with scissors (H, reverse view).

Backstitch

Sewing backstitch on Aida
This stitch is ideal to add detail or highlight designs with an outline.

Use a single or double strand of thread, see pattern key for instructions. Bring the needle up through the fabric at the point of the first stitch (I), leaving 2 cm at the back, and bring the needle back through the fabric at the point where the stitch will end (J), this creates one backstitch.

Next bring the needle up at the point where the next stitch will end (K) and back down through the point where the first stitch started and continue until all the stitches have been completed (L).

Hoop stitch
 

Cross stitch tutorial
This is an alternative way to start cross stitching. Use a single 2 m strand of thread and create a loop (M). Thread your needle with the two cut ends and bring the needle up through the back of the Aida and back down again to create a diagonal stitch (N, reverse view). Loop the needle through the hoop (O, reverse view), securing the thread to begin stitching (P, reverse view).



Fractional stitches

Fractional stitches are useful to provide more shape to a design than full stitches. On a pattern key, fractional stitches will be either squares filled with two different colours or partially filled (e.g. quarter stitches).



Multi-coloured fractional stitches

Frational stitches in cross stitch
Multi-coloured fractional stitches are made up of two different thread colours. Bring the thread of the first colour up through the Aida and back through the centre of the square, this creates the first part of the stitch (Q).

Then using the second colour, bring the thread up through the corner of the opposite square and back through the middle of the square (R). Finally, using the second colour, complete the stitch with a diagonal half stitch (S).

Half-stitches