Now that you know about the tools and materials used to cross stitch, let’s move on to the cross stitch process itself. This page takes you through the basics of cross stitch, starting with how to find the centre of your fabric and make your first stitch. We’ll then explain how to complete a variety of stitches and knots, and how to end your thread.

Finding the Centre of Your Fabric

It's important to always begin stitching a design in the centre of your fabric to make sure it's centralised. To find the centre, gently fold your fabric in half and then fold it in half again, marking the centre with a needle or fabric pencil. Once you've marked the centre, cut your desired amount of stranded cotton, separate the strands as your chart suggests, then thread it through the eye of the needle. As previously discussed, your chart uses black markings to indicate the centre of the design – so that's how you know what to begin stitching at the centre point of your fabric!

Beginning Your Stitch

There are several ways in which you can start a stitch, but below we've included the best three methods for beginners. Whichever method you choose completely depends on your personal preference – there isn't only one correct way!

Cross Stitch Stitches and Knots

Full Cross Stitch

 
The most important stitch you'll need to know is the Full Cross Stitch – it is, after all, where the name derives from! This simple x-shaped stitch is worked from the left and repeated multiple times to form a design. To begin, bring the needle up through the bottom left square (1), then thread it down through into the top right square, diagonal to it (2). Instead of crossing over right away, stitchers will often complete a row of half stitches, then work backwards to cross them over. So, simply repeat the first step in the square to the right (3) and so on. Finally, repeat the process again, but this time working to the left to form full crosses.

 

Back Stitch

Used to finish off stitched areas, the Back Stitch outlines completed cross stitch designs in a different thread colour to add definition and detail. Instead of working from the left, this simple stitch is worked from the right. To begin, bring your needle up through the first square (1), then move horizontally to the right and push your needle down into the next square (2). This time, bring the needle up through the square to the left of the first square (3), then push it down through the first square (1) to form a line. Continue this process – up through 4, then down through 3, and so on.
 

Fractional Stitches

'Fractional Stitches' is a group term for Quarter Stitches, Half Stitches and Three-Quarter Stitches. Basically, they're specific fractions of a stitch. These stitches allow much more detail within a design as you can form pronounced curves and finer features, so an evenweave fabric is recommended as it's easier to pierce through the threads. These Fractional Stitches are as follows...
 

Stitching Over 2 Threads

When you Stitch Over 1 Thread, you simply stitch diagonally from hole-to-hole. So, Stitching Over 2 Threads means that you skip a hole for every stitch you make – you stitch over two threads instead of one. Evenweave and Linen fabrics are often stitched over two threads due to the thread structure (unless stitching highly defined features), whereas Aida fabrics are mostly stitched over one.
 

French Knot

Used to embellish cross stitch designs, French Knots are, as suggested, tiny knots often used for eyes, little flowers or other defining details. The size of the knot depends on how many cotton strands you use in the needle – the more strands, the bigger the knot.
 

To complete a French Knot, bring the needle up through your fabric, then hold it firmly with your left (or non-stitching) hand. Hold the needle facing away from the fabric with your other hand, then wrap the stranded cotton twice around the needle with your left hand. If you'd prefer a bigger knot, wrap the stranded cotton around your needle three times at this stage.
 

Whilst holding the cotton tightly with your left hand, point the needle downwards and insert it into your fabric, directly next to where you brought the needle up – but not in the hole you came up through. Gently pull the cotton all the way through the back, until your knot is sitting on the front surface of the fabric.
 

Tweeding

Usually when you use multiple strands of cotton in a stitch, you use strands of the same colour in the needle at the same time, thus thickening the stitches. Tweeding, on the other hand, means that you use different coloured strands in a stitch – usually one strand of each colour – to embellish your design.

Blending Filament is often used in Tweeding, and is a delicate, metallic, thread-like substance that's combined with stranded cottons to add sparkle, producing a unique shimmer effect in your stitching.

 

Ending Your Thread

If you've run out of stranded cotton in your threaded needle, want to change your cotton colour, or just want to call it a day, ending your thread is very simple. With the stranded cotton still attached to the needle, simply run it under the last few stitches you made on the backside of your fabric, then cut the excess off. If you want to start the thread again, rethread your needle then run it under those stitches again to secure the cottons.