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Cross stitching is a meditative form of craft. Reading a pattern and counting out those tiny xes quiets my mind. Stitching takes me away to a peacefull place.
I like the whole process from choosing the cross-stitch chart, material and threads. Right through to the framing whether it’s wall frame or an aperture card.

When a project is done and you look at it you get a excillerating feeling. It is a natural high.

I have been stitching for many years and I never get bored with it.
Do you ever feel the urge to be creative? To make something special with your own two hands? Something you can proudly display? To be admired by all visitors into your home?
If you do, then counted cross stitch is a great way to satisfy that urge! I guarantee that for the majority of you, if you try this craft, the creativity bug will bite; and you’ll become a total cross-stitch addict – just like me!

The art or craft of cross stitch is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Easy to learn and do, ‘cross stitch’ is simply embroidery stitched with lots of little ‘X’ stitches to create a lovely design. This fun craft is sometimes referred to as ‘counted cross-stitch’ because the pattern and fabric require the crafter to count the number spaces to know where to place the stitches.

Embroidery is classified according to the use of the underlying foundation fabric.

Embroidery styles can be described according to the relationship of stitch placement to the fabric.

In free embroidery, designs are applied without regard to the weave of the underlying fabric. Examples include crewel and traditional Chinese embroidery.

In counted-thread embroidery, patterns are created by making stitches over a pre-determined number of threads in the foundation fabric. Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas, aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and linen fabrics although non-evenweave linen is used as well. Examples include needlepoint and cross-stitch.

Are you here to learn how to cross stitch. Great! It’s easy, I promise this cross stitch tutorial will cover all the cross stitch basics.

Already know how? Head back to our main cross stitch page for more adventurous projects.

If this is your first try, I would suggest you use 14 count Aida cloth.

The design is counted from a chart, not marked on the fabric in any way. Each square on the chart corresponds to a “woven square” on the fabric with a hole in each corner. Each thread colour is represented by a different symbol on the chart. For example black may be a solid black square symbol, whereas red may be an empty heart shape.

Where do I start?
Starting your stitching in the centre ensures that the design will fit on the fabric. Most charts have the centre marked, either with arrows or a coloured line. Fold the fabric in half, both ways and crease it gently, to mark the centre. You can then put the fabric into an embroidery hoop to keep it taut.

We will use a tapestry needle for cross stitch as it is blunt and will not pierce the fabric threads (or your finger).

If you are stitching on Aida 14, most charts will specify using 2 strands of cotton (floss). Check this video for an easy way to separate the strands from the 6 stranded cotton. Before you pop back here by clicking on the “BACK” button in your browser, check further down that page to find a simple method of starting your thread with the “loop method”.
How to work the cross stitches?

The photo shows what is known as the continental method, this is a good way to learn how to cross stitch. Bring the needle up in the bottom left hole, reinsert it at the top right to create a diagonal stitch. Continue in this way across the row. To complete the stitches on the journey back, bring the needle up in the bottom right and take it back down through the top left hole. Easy!

Tip After working a number of stitches you may find the thread is getting twisted. Just let the needle and thread dangle from your work for a moment or two and it will untwist itself.
How to follow a chart

Welcome back to your learn how to cross stitch lesson. Look at your chart and find the symbol nearest to the centre. On the sample chart I have included here to help you learn how to cross stitch the centre would be the top left of the owls beak. This has the number 2 as its symbol. We will use yellow, as shown in the key below. The number 444 relates to the DMC colour number.

Start by working two cross stitches for the top row of his beak. We then work our way down the design using up the thread colour in our needle, so next we would cross stitch the row of 3 underneath. The next row needs 2 again and then a single stitch finishes his beak.

Ah, well actually it doesn’t! Did you spot the lone cross stitch the other side of the flower stem (the straight line symbols)?

I would stitch this at the same time I worked the row of three crosses. Just miss one hole and place the last yellow stitch where it needs to be. Carrying the thread across the back of one to five stitches is fine, but try to avoid trailing it long distances. It is often better to fasten off and start again if there is a big gap.

Changing colours
Once the beak is complete you need to choose another symbol (colour) and work a block of that. On this design I would pick the empty circle symbol, or light tan colour, and stitch the area underneath and to the left of our owl’s beak. As there are many stitches to work in this colour on the other side of the flower stem I would leave them for a separate piece of thread.

Fastening off
As I finish an area of colour, or run out of thread, I try to fasten off underneath the same colour to avoid it showing through. See the threads page for ways to fasten off your thread.

Outlining with backstitch
The finishing step in our learn how to cross stitch lesson is to outline it with backstitch. Not all designs have backstitch but many do. Normally if you have used 2 strands of thread (floss) for the cross stitch, you will use just 1 strand for the backstitch.

This is where I tend to cheat a little, as I don’t like leaving all the backstitch until last. Once the stitches are worked on both sides of a line that will be outlined I tend to get that backstitching in place. Little and often. If I still have plenty of thread left in my needle I will “park” it out of the way for the time being while I complete more of the cross stitch, picking it up again when needed.

Want to stitch the owl?
If you would like to stitch the owl design I have used as an example for your learn how to cross stitch lesson you will find it, and many more beginners cross stitch kits in the beginners kits section.