How to cross stitch for beginners: your complete guide
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How to cross stitch for beginners: your complete guide

Want to try counted cross stitch for the first time? Great idea! Here is our complete guide to cross stitching for beginners.

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Fiona Baker

Published: May 15, 2024 at 2:20 pm

Cross stitch is a particular kind of embroidery worked on a gridded fabric where each stitch forms a little X. It's like painting by numbers but with thread! As you follow a pattern and work each cross stitch in different colours you'll build up amazingly detailed scenes, or create small motifs full of colour and texture.

Because every cross stitch is composed of just two tiny stitches, it's quick and easy to master the basics. Anyone can give it a go, and this beginners' guide will give you the skills and knowledge you need to start cross stitching straightaway.

Cross stitch is such a fun and therapeutic craft to learn, and can be a great mindful activity to help your mental health. You can pick it up in just a few hours, and the creative possibilities are endless! You can cross stitch designs for greetings cards, gifts, framed decor and more.

A complete guide to cross stitch for beginners

What materials and tools do I need to cross stitch?

Cross stitch is generally done with a tapestry needle which has a blunt tip and large eye. For fabric, beginner stitchers start off using aida – a block-weave fabric, which is divided into squares by a grid of holes, making it an ideal fabric for beginners. Each cross stitch is worked over one square. There are different sizes but most patterns will used 14-count aida.

Or you may prefer evenweave, which is also woven in a grid but in a finer count. Each cross stitch is usually worked over two threads of the fabric. There are different sizes but most patterns will used 28-count evenweave as an equivalent to 14-aida.

Finally, embroidery thread (or floss). This is usually six-stranded and you'll have to separate out two or three lengths for your projects. See 'How to separate cross stitch threads' below.

Cross stitch charts are made up of coloured squares containing symbols that represent squares to be stitched on the fabric and what colour it should be. A tiny symbol denotes a fractional stitch in the corner of the square in which it’s to be worked.

The centres of most charts are marked with arrows on the edge of each side. To find the corresponding centre of your fabric, fold it in half horizontally and then vertically – the point where the creases cross marks the centre. Start stitching here to ensure the design is positioned in the middle of the fabric.

A chart will usually be accompanied by a key, which tells you what colour to stitch each square with.

More beginner help and free, easy charts to try

You'll find more in-depth help on following cross stitch charts and patterns in our article, How to use a cross stitch pattern

How to separate cross stitch thread strands

While embroidery thread or floss comes in lengths of six strands, you don't use all six in cross stitch. You will usually need to separate out your threads for cross stitch, as certain stitches require a specific number of threads – usually two, or three if using dark fabric. It can sometimes become a bit of a chore if you don’t use the right technique (hello knots!). Help avoid those tangles by watching our quick video to show how to separate your threads in a quick and easy way.

  • Step 1 – Take a cutting of thread
  • Step 2 – Hold it gently between your index finger and thumb
  • Step 3 – Pull and single thread away from the other 5
  • Step 4 – Pull the thread forwards gently away from you

Top tip: keep your hand relaxed and don’t pull the thread hard!

How to separate threads video tutorial

Give cross stitch a try with this simple pattern

cross stitch for beginners

Learn how to start starting with the chevrons design shown above. The beauty of this design is that you can use any colours you want and you won't have to rethread your needle too often.

To stitch the design above, download our free chevrons pattern.

We are stitching on 14-count aida, which is the most common open weave fabric for cross stitch and a great choice for beginners. It is stiff and easy to handle, with clearly defined holes in the fabric. For other kinds of fabric, check out our cross stitch fabrics guide.

You usually use two strands of cotton for stitching on 14-count aida. If you are using a different fabric count, found out how many strands you should use in our how many strands of thread for cross stitch article. Embroidery cotton comes in six-stranded skeins – split it into individual strands and put two together before you thread the needle.

Try your first cross stitches with this visual guide

Step 1

Start by threading one of your cross stitch needles with two strands of cross stitch thread and knot the opposite end. Take your needle down through the aida, a short distance from where you want to start stitching then back up where you first stitch will start, leaving the knot on the surface. We’ll snip this off later once the thread is secure. Starting your cross stitch like this is called the waste knot method.

cross stitch for beginners

Step 2

You can now stitch towards your starting knot, following our free chevrons cross stitch pattern chart as a guide for your stitches. Each symbol on the chart represents one cross stitch on the fabric. Work the first part of the stitch by making a diagonal stitch. This should sit from the bottom left to top right over a single aida block.

cross stitch for beginners 2

 

Step 3

To complete this cross stitch, make a second diagonal stitch, this time working it from bottom right to top left, crossing over your previous stitch. The different coloured chart symbols represent different colours of stranded cotton – you can  choose whichever colours you prefer for this simple design.

cross stitch for beginners 3

Step 4

Continue working towards your starting knot – your stitches will secure your starting thread on the reverse of your work. Once you reach the knot, snip it off. To finish your thread, simply pass it through the reverse of your stitches a few times so it’s secure then cut off the end.

cross stitch for beginners 4

Essentials tips for starting cross stitch

Step 1 – Choose your project

Make sure you choose the right level for you – if you’ve never tried cross stitch before, it’s a good idea to start with kits or charts that are marked for beginners. Absolute beginners should choose a design without fractional stitches – look for a pattern that’s made up of whole stitches, with a bit of backstitch detail, and that isn’t too large, so you can try it out and see results quickly. For any terms you are not sure about, check out our cross stitch glossary

Step 2 – Gather your materials

Cross stitch kits come with all the fabric, needles and thread you’ll need to sew the design inside. If you have a cross stitch pattern only as opposed to a cross stitch kit, you’ll need to buy the materials you need. As a beginner, you should buy the recommended cross stitch fabric and the cross stitch thread listed in the key, but click these links to find out more about these and gain the confidence to adapt designs to different sizes and colours!

Before you start to stitch, sort out the threads into different shades and note which symbol they match on the chart. Many cross stitchers use a thread sorter for this, and pre-cut some lengths of each one to save time later on.

cross stitch for beginners threads

If you’re stitching from a counted cross stitch chart then you’ll also need to buy cross stitch fabric, cross stitch thread and cross stitch needles. The chart should say which fabrics the design is intended for. We recommend starting with aida fabric – it’s more beginner-friendly than evenweave or linen fabric. You can try those later! You’ll also see a list of the threads you need in the pattern's key. 

See our guide below on how to separate your embroidery thread into individual strands.

Step 3 – Find the centre of the chart

We recommend always starting from the middle of the design. This is usually marked in some form (for example with arrows, a ‘0’ or triangles) around the edges of a chart. Look for this symbol on the key for the colour of thread you need, plus the number of strands. Thread your needle with the required strands this colour.

Step 4 – Find the centre of your fabric

Fold your fabric in half horizontally then open it out and fold it vertically – the point where the two creases cross points to the centre. This is the point where you should start cross stitching, starting from the middle of your cross stitch pattern. This ensures the design sits centrally on your fabric.

Step 5 – Get stitching!

You’ve now got all of the essentials on how to cross stitch and it’s time to make your first project! Follow our step by step guide to how to cross stitch above to start stitching.

You can also use the loop method to secure your thread to the fabric before starting – this only works when using a single strand of thread doubled over in the needle, creating a loop at one end. Make the first arm of your cross stitch as above, but leaving the looped end of thread hanging loose at the back of the fabric. Then pass the needle through the loop before completing the top arm.

To finish a thread, leave a thread tail of a minimum of 4cm (2in) on the back of the fabric, and catch it under a few nearby stitches to secure it, then trim all loose ends with embroidery scissors. We recommend finishing all the cross stitch in your design before you work the backstitch or add any French knots – see our video guide on How to do French knots.

Cross stitch patterns for beginners

When you are just starting out with cross stitch for beginners, it’s best to choose cross stitch patterns for beginners that use whole cross stitch and some backstitch for detail and definition. Try not to tackle cross stitch design with lots of fractional cross stitches or French knots.  Below are some free cross stitch patterns for beginners you will find right here on Gathered.

Also check out our guide to some of the top easy cross stitch patterns.

Free lamb cross stitch pattern

Here’s another sweet design stitched entirely in whole cross stitch. Work the pattern to build up the shape and easily practice your counting.

cross stitch for beginners lamb

Children’s cross stitch patterns

Not just for kids! These sweet woodland characters use while cross stitch with just a little backstitch.

cross stitch for beginners pals

Cats cross stitch patterns

Who could resist stitching one of these beautiful kitties!

cross stitch for begunners puss

 

Summer cross stitch patterns for men

Worked in whole cross stitch and backstitch. these simple summery motifs are great for beginners.

cross stitch for beginners men

Challenge yourself to new cross stitch projects

Cross stitch chevrons onto white linen fabric using your new skills for a modern graphic look! Cross stitch may be thought of as quite a traditional technique, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used in a modern way. Bring this classic embroidery technique up to date by using it in unexpected ways, like we’ve done here with this stitched panel on crisp white linen – backed and framed with white cotton fabric to make a trendy cushion cover. It’s a creative way to incorporate graphic prints into a modern home.

If you enjoy contemporary cross stitch, take a look at our best modern cross stitch kits article.

cross stitch for beginners 5

Fiona Baker

Senior Technical Editor, The World of Cross Stitching

Fiona is Senior Technical Editor for The World of Cross Stitching magazine. She’s responsible for the team of fabulous charters and taking the designer’s submitted projects right through to completion, ensuring each chart and key is technically correct for readers to stitch. She's worked on converting the designs of Margaret Sherry, Forever Friends, Tatty Teddy and Aardman Animations among others into patterns for stitchers around the world to enjoy. When not working on the magazines, she also designs her own patterns too – and runs Fiona Baker Design. Check out her pattern store at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FionaBakerDesign and follow her on Instagram @fionabakerdesign
Woman's hands over cross-stitch embroidery

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