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Ready to Cross Stitch
Now you
are ready to start stitching! Make sure you have clean hands that are
free of lotion or oil. Look for the center of
your fabric by folding it in half sideways and then again
lengthwise. Mark the center with a small pencil mark. Look for the
center of your cross stitch pattern (generally marked by arrows) and count up from
the center of the pattern to the top of the design for an efficient
starting point and another way to check that you have cut your fabric to
the correct size before you stitch for weeks and find out you
miscalculated. Each grid on the pattern is 10 stitches for easy
counting.
I prefer to start my cross stitch projects at the top of the fabric and
work my way down. Some people like to start their cross stitch in
the middle, which can be easily located on the pattern because it is
marked. Did you know that you can even start your cross stitch by
turning your pattern upside down (180 degrees) and stitching your
pattern from the bottom. Try it. Make a cross stitch on your
fabric and then turn it upside down and look at it. It looks
exactly the same as it does right side up.
Most patterns call for 2 strands of floss for most cross stitches.
For a softer effect, one strand is used. One strand floss is
normally used for outlining with back stitches or fabric with a very
high stitch count like 22 count Lugana or Hardanger. When using a
22 count, it is generally stitched with one strand of floss.
For
shading on a piece, blends or tweeding is often used. This is the use
of two or more colors of thread at a time. You can also use one
strand of floss and one strand of a metallic blending filament for a
shine to your work. You must stitch carefully when using blending
filaments because they can break easily.
Use even
tension when making stitches. Do not pull the thread too tight so as to
distort the fabric and make the stitches uneven. Work from left to
right and right to left when making rows of cross stitches.
Hold the hoop with your left hand and stitch with your right. I
usually put the hoop on my fabric with the screw off to the left side
towards the top. That way I don't catch my floss on the screw when
I am sewing and it doesn't get in the way. Some people
prefer to stitch without a hoop. Especially stitchers who use
Linen rather than Aida. Linen can get distorted in a hoop where as
Aida is a stronger fabric that doesn't distort easily. |
