Basic Tips For Cross Stitching

By Author: Kenneth Rash
Total Articles: 2
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If you are looking for a more productive way to while away the time, then you might want to know more about cross stitching. Cross stitching is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery that makes use of embroidery floss and Aida cloth. There are many forms of cross stitch such as the Assisi embroidery, the Leviathan stitch, and the Montenegrin stitch, among others.

Although cross stitch might seem to be a very easy hobby, it actually requires a lot of effort. For one, because you are trying to paint a picture using embroidery floss, you have to make sure that you have an eye for the right color combination and shade. It is also a good idea to ensure that you go for rolled Aida cloth instead of the folded one. By doing so, you would not have a hard time taking out the creases.

Some cross stitch aficionados also recommend that, if you are just beginning with cross stitching, you should choose simple pictures that have five to six color combinations. This would allow you to have a feel of what cross stitching is all about. Make sure also that you go for an Aida cloth that has holes that you can clearly see. This ...
... would result in a more even stitching.

It is also a good idea to make sure that you have a pair of scissors as part of your cross stitch supplies. It need not be big and expensive. You can choose to have a sharp one as you need something that would not fray the ends of the embroidery floss. Since your scissors would be primarily used for snipping threads, you can skip on those big ones and settle for something that you can easily store in a small box.

Make sure also that you go for colorfast embroidery floss when engaging in a counted cross stitch. This would ensure that your project would still look perfect even after a few washes. Start your work from the edge so that you can be sure that you have enough space to finish the work.

Lastly, when choosing which needle to get for your counted cross stitch, take into consideration the cloth that you have. A size 24 needle is best suited for an Aida cloth that has a count of 14 and below. If your Aida cloth has a count of more than 14, then go for a size 16 needle.