How to Grid Cross Stitch Fabric

I’ve started (just barely, as you can see) a relatively big/complicated cross stitch project (the Baba Yaga house from Happy Little Mouse I told you about a while ago) and I knew that for this project I was going to need a little help keeping track of where I was and what I needed to do next.

Adding grids to your cross stitch fabric is a quick and easy way to help yourself when you’re working on a big project. Your chart will have grids marking off every 10 stitches and every 10 rows, so having those same markings on your fabric can only make it easier for you to follow along.

There are a few main ways to do this, which include marking the grid with thread (either embroidery floss, sewing thread, thread marketed for this purpose, or even fishing line!) or using fabric marking tools to draw the grid. Using a ruler when you do this helps a lot. Mine are still not that straight.

You can also buy cross stitch fabric that’s already marked, which of course makes it a lot easier, but it’s kind of expensive.

When marking your fabric it helps to know where the center of your fabric is, as well as where the center of the chart is relative to the grid marks so you can line them up.

This makes it a lot easier to orient yourself in the chart, and if you have a lot of one color all together it can make it easier to count stitches. Say you had 23 stitches in a row of the same color; stitching across two squares plus three stitches is a lot easier to keep track of than having to manually count them as you go.

Want to learn more about gridding cross stitch fabric and why you would want to? Check out my post all about ways to grid cross stitch fabric over at Our Daily Craft.

[Photo: Our Daily Craft]

Mango Charm Studio doesn’t have a huge collection of cross stitch patterns in their Etsy shop, but at the risk of repeating their own descriptor, the designs they do have are charming, pretty and cute.

This shop has cross stitch patterns and bookmark designs, as well as a few laser designs you can use to cut your own signs. But that’s a different craft, so let’s focus on the cross stitch.

The bookmarks are the only section that is separated out, but there aren’t a lot of patterns to scroll through in their general cross stitch art category. You’ll find a lot of flowers, from marigold to lily of the valley, gladiolus to carnation.

It turns out these are all birth flowers, and there’s also a set of all 12 designs if you want to buy the bundle and stitch them up for everyone’s birthday.

When it comes to bundles, though, I can’t resist sharing the mini coastal cross stitch pattern bundle, both because this shop is based in Maine and that feels appropriate, and because there’s a big place in my heart for New England costal icons.

This set of nine designs includes a sand castle under an umbrella, a shell, sailboat, lobster, lighthouse, beach house, whale tail, blueberry plant and anchor.

The pieces range in size from 10 by 34 to 35 by 34 stitches, and in all only seven colors are used. These would all fit in 3 or 4 inch hoops if you want to make the whole set in little frames like they are shown.

In addition to flowers and coastal designs, you’ll also find Halloween cross stitch patterns (including a full set of ghosts and their hobbies, and a vintage fortune teller design), Mediterranean tile designs, little houses, fruits and black cats.

The bookmark section includes seasonal book stacks, flowers, a couple of geese and a best dad ever with mountain design.

It’s a small but sweet selection that you should check out at Mango Charm Studio on Etsy.

[Photo: Mango Charm Studio]

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