Cross-Stitch

Charts, patterns and everything needlepoint

Tips for New Cross Stitchers

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beginner cross stitch tips

If you are new to the craft of cross stitching or just want to improve your skills and have better results and more enjoyment in your projects, check out this list of 7 things I wish I knew before I started cross stitching from Hannah Hand Makes.

Some of these are really solid, such as understanding that there are different sizes of Aida cloth and how to best work with colored cloth. I’m not sure about the one about cutting the skein of thread before you get started so you have pieces of uniform length to work with as you stitch. Have you ever tried that?

Do you have something you wish you knew when you were starting out? I’d love to hear your tips!

[Photo: Hannah Hand Makes.]

Comments

  1. Not so much a tip, but I find it helpful to always leave my needle threaded and ready so it is easy to pick up my project again.

  2. For as long as I’ve been stitching, since about 1976 or so, I have always cut my floss to about 12″-16″ inch lengths. That way I don’t need to stop and keep cutting it. With some of the newer flosses, like the metallic, light effects, etc. I cut my floss in shorter lengths to keep it from fraying. This also makes it much easier to keep on my floss card for each WIP.

Have you read?

Stitch Some Small Cross Stitch Patterns for Fall

I have a pretty short attention span these days (I was going to say when it comes to cross stitch, but actually it’s everything) so I’m always on the lookout for little patterns that can add some cuteness to my decor without taking a lot of time. So here are some small cross stitch patterns for your fall stitching and decorating enjoyment. 

One thing I do still try to pay attention to is reading, so I had to share this little pumpkin bookshop from Mango Charm Studio. At 46 by 48 stitches, it shouldn’t take long to stitch up the project, which uses 16 colors (because small doesn’t have to mean it lacks details!). On 14 count fabric this one comes out to 3.3 by 3.4 inches, or 8.3 by 8.7 cm. 

These cozy autumn icons from Stitch Bloom Garden would be fun to stitch on a single hoop as shown or work each little one on a different project. You could stitch leaves on napkins or use the designs in little frames. The full set is 108 by 106 stitches, which some out to 7.7 by 7.6 inches, or 19.5 by 20 cm, on 14 count fabric. The full set fits in a 9 inch frame and uses 21 colors. 

Pattern House US has this cute maple leaf stamp cross stitch pattern that comes out to 3.93 by 4.64 inches/9.98 by 11.79 cm on 14 count fabric, but you can make it even smaller if you like. This project uses 7 colors and is 55 by 65 stitches. 

Another one that reminds me a bit of a stamp is this pumpkin design from KC Patterns Studio. This one uses 6 colors and is 40 by 40 stitches, which comes out to 2.5 inches or 6.5 cm on 14 count fabric. 

Find more cute minis at Dreaming Cat Patterns, which has a set of 12 mini fall motifs, leaning toward Thanksgiving but really pumpkins and pies and turkeys are great all throughout the fall, right? The designs are all 50 stitches wide and vary a little bit in height (all are 40 or fewer stitches tall) and number of colors needed. The biggest one is 3.57 by 2.86 inches, or about 9 by 7.3 cm on 14 count fabric. 

And if you want to get super tiny, try the pumpkin and fall leaves minis from Bella Rose Craft that fit in tiny frames (just the pumpkin is shown above). The pumpkin is just 12 by 12 stitches and the leaves are 15 by 21, and they both fit in a tiny 1.5 by 2 inch hoop. So cute!