Stitching Instructions for Cross Stitch
Always stitch with clean hands.
Finish the edges of the fabric, by over locking or turning under a 1cm hem, before beginning to stitch in order to prevent fraying.
Always use an embroidery hoop or frame for a more even finish. Remove work from frame when not stitching.
Find the centre of the fabric by folding it into quarters and fixing a small length of thread at the centre point.
Use the marker arrows on the chart to locate the centre of the design and begin your stitching at this point. Work outwards towards the edges of the design.
Follow the Symbol Key for the colour and number of strands of thread to use.
Each square on the chart represents a cross stitch. Each symbol represents the colour to use in that square. Symbols are printed on the thread sorter card alongside each bundle of thread.
The DMC stranded thread on the thread sorter card has been cut into 50cm lengths this being the ideal length to avoid loss of thread quality when pulling longer lengths through the fabric.
| Stranded Thread | |
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Each length of thread has 6 strands. Separate these carefully and use 2 strands for crossstitch and 1 strand for back stitch. See diagram 1. |
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| Beginning to Stitch | |
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Thread your needle with two strands of thread. Start at the back of the fabric and pull the thread through leaving a 2cm long tail of thread at the back of the fabric. Stitch the first few stitches over the tail to secure it. Avoid using knots to secure the thread as they spoil the finish. |
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| Full Cross Stitch | |
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Stitch one cross stitch over each square of fabric on aida. Always stitch horizontally from bottom left to top right, then back in the opposite direction to make each cross stitch. See illustration at right. Bring needle from back through to front at 1. Insert needle at 2 and take through to back. Bring needle up to front again at 3 and take it to back again at 4. Repeat these steps at 5 through 7 and so on. In large areas of colour work half cross stitches all the way across a row in a colour area then work the other half of the stitches by coming back along the row. In areas of scattered colour work each full cross stitch before moving on to the next stitch. To fasten off the thread, take the needle through to the back of the work and run it under a few stitches before trimming neatly. |
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| Get cross stitch supplies here |
