Truth be told, I’m terrible at cross-stitching. Give me a needle and thread, and I’ll surely make a mess. But this is so unfortunate because I truly want to be good at it. I want to be able to make this and this and maybe even this. (That last one seems like a doozey, huh?)
If I’m ever going to be able to whip up creations like that, I’ve got some serious learning to do. So far in my quest to become the cross-stitch queen, I’ve learned these tricks:
- Always use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut and in place as you stitch.
- Keep the length of your thread to a minimum. Most cross-stitch experts recommend using a piece that’s no longer than 12 inches. This will prevent knots and lessen the wear and tear on the thread.
- Rather than try to “carry” your thread—or jump to a different section with the same color—it’s sometimes easier to just cut the string and start over. (As someone that’s prone to knotting, I’ve found this is always easier for me.)
- Removing the fabric from the embroidery hoops after you’re done stitching will prevent crinkles.
If you need to start with the basics, here are a few of my favorite tutorials:
- This is a tutorial from Primrose Design that even I can follow. Be sure to download the free morning glory pattern at the end of the post! And if you’re curious about other embroidery stitches, she’s got a tutorial for almost every one of them.
- Although this article is specifically written for children learning how to cross-stitch, I find that it suits my abilities perfectly (however sad that is).
- Here are how-tos on just about every embroidery stitch, ailment, and technique.
Until Monday,
The Home Know-It-All
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