Tips to Prepare Your Cross Stitch Fabric

I am going to be really honest here and tell you that I’ve never really done anything to prepare my cross stitch fabric before I start stitching (unless it’s a big project and I need a grid, but I hardly ever even do that).

Notorious Needle has a great post all about ways you can prepare for cross stitching that will make it easier or give you a better result. If you’re working a small, quick project for yourself you might do less of this kind of preparation, but if you’re working on a large project that will be framed, given as a gift or that you want to become an heirloom, these steps will help ensure that you start your project in the best way.

A lot of this is about making sure that you have enough fabric for the framing option that you want to use or so your project will fit in the hoop you want to use to stitch your project, and taking care of your fabric to make the stitching easier.

The post covers a lot of the basics that you might have learned naturally if you’ve been cross stitching for a while, but if you’re new to cross stitching or haven’t done a big project before, these ideas are super helpful. It’s great to get in the habit of doing these things and thinking ahead about how you might want to finish your project before you start. Then these things will just be things you do all the time and your projects are sure to come out better.

Go check out the post and let me know if you do these things. Or if you have other tips for getting started on a cross stitch pattern to make it easier/more successful, let’s talk about it.

[Photo: Notorious Needle]

How to Grid Cross Stitch Fabric

How to Join Two Pieces of Plastic Canvas

How to Choose the Perfect Color Fabric for Your Cross Stitch Project

Cross Stitch Borders and How to Use Them

Works by ABC sells both PDFs and paper patterns of many of its designs, which include temperature projects, intricate designs that look like lace, floral designs and more.

The patterns are only organized by PDF or paper, so you’ll just have to scroll through to see all the options.

There are fractal designs, holiday projects (including Hanukkah), mandalas, snowflakes, seasonal patterns, biscornu and more. (Learn more about biscornu here.)

The lace inspired designs are the ones that really caught my eye, so let’s take a closer look at one of those. This one is just called exquisite lace, and that’s a totally valid name because that is what it is.

This single color design is all full cross stitches, but because of the size and level of detail I’d still say it is best for intermediate to advanced cross stitchers. The design is 205 by 331 stitches and it is shown worked on 36 count linen stitched over two threads. The 36 count is equivalent to 18 count Aida, so that makes the finished project 11.4 by 18.4 inches, or 28.9 by 46.7 cm.

It’s really pretty on the gray fabric shown but would be great with any dark color like blue, green or black as well.

There are actually four more listings in the paper pattern section than there are in the PDF section, but I assume for the most part any pattern that you can get in one format you can get in the other. Patterns that are printed appear to be $2 more expensive (based on the few that I checked) and there is a charge for shipping but it’s nice to have the option if you like a printed pattern and don’t have an easy way to print at home.

Check out all the available patterns in print and digital form at Works by ABC. And be sure to let me know if you know of a designer who should be in the spotlight!

[Photo: Works by ABC]

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