Work the cross stitches in two strands of embroidery cotton. If you do use a hoop, however, take your work out of it when you’re not stitching as leaving it in place makes creases in the fabric that can be difficult to get rid of. Working in an embroidery hoop or lap frame helps maintain it. The thread as this leaves a ridge in the fabric on the finished work.ĭifferent areas of the design as it may show through on the front.Keep the tension even without pulling the thread too tight. To end off the thread, run the needle through the back of several stitches to secure it. Hold the loose end behind the fabric and catch it down with your first stitches. To begin, select a colour and separate the strands of the cotton to let them untwist, then put them back
It is important that the upper stitches lie at the same angle. Each square on the design chart represents a cross stitch and each symbol denotes the colour thread to use.Īlways begin stitching at the centre of the design. The middle of the fabric corresponds to the centre of the chart. Use a ruler to draw lines between the two or four arrows on the edges of the chart to give you the design centre.
These tacking stitches should be the length of 20 linen threads and they help with counting the stitches against the chart. Iron the fabric carefully, then overlock or zigzag- stitch the edges to prevent it from fraying.įind the middle of the fabric either by measuring, or by folding it in quarters and marking the folds with lines of tacking stitches in contrasting machine- sewing thread. Read through the instructions before you begin.