AIDA 11 (stitches per inch)
ALBA, AIDA 14 (14 stitches per inch) or MONZA
DAVOS or AIDA 18 (18 stitches per inch)
HARDANGER, MODENA, LINDA or any other fabric with more than 22 threads per inch.
NEEDLE SIZES
Needle should slip easily through the opening of the fabric threads. Needle should not pierce fabric.
On 11 threads-per-inch fabric use Needle Size 24
On 14 threads-per-inch fabric use Needle Size 24 or 26
On 18 threads-per-inch fabric use Needle Size 26
On 22 or more threads-per-inch fabric use Needle Size 26.
PREPARING FABRIC
Cut fabric at least 2 inches larger, on each side,than the design size. To keep fabric from fraying, whip stitch or machine zig-zag raw edges.
Or the QUICK METHOD- overlap edges with Masking Tape, however, be careful when removing masking tape as it will pull the raveled egde somewhat, that's why its good to make the design area the extra two inches wider.
USING HOOP OR FRAME
Select hoop, frame or stretcher bars that are large enough to encompass entire design. If hoop has to be moved across design, do so carefully so as not to snag threads of worked design. To keep threads from catching on screw of hoop place screw at 10 o'clock position. (l o'clock position if left handed).
SEPARATING STRANDS OF FLOSS
Brand Names: DMC works best
Cut a length of floss anywhere from 11 to 14 inches in length (this length will vary from individual preference).
For better coverage completely separate all 6 strands of floss. Put back together number of strands needed. Run these strands over small damp sponge to straighten them out.
Local Craft Shops Offer special plastic sheet cards to store your floss in a notebook. Also available are small plastic storage containers with sectioned compartments (or use a tackle-bait box).
However, you can make your own sheet floss-storage card by taking the 8x10 cardboard from Men's dress shirts, using a Hole-punch punch holes down the left side of the longest edge at least 3/4 inch from edge spacing each hole 1/2 inch, With a pen write the Floss Name or Number in the Margin area near the hole. When attaching the Floss, Fold the Floss in half, slip this through the hole in the card and slip knot.If keeping several cards,place in Three-Ring-Binder or store in Large Zip-Lock Storage Bag.
CENTERING DESIGN
Find center of fabric by folding from top to bottom and again left to right. Place pin in fold point to mark center. Locate center of design on gragh by following vertical and horizontal arrows. Each square on graph represents one complete stitch. Begin stitching at the center point.[some experienced designers instead of using a pin to mark center of fabric use a floss color not being used in the design, place a "tacking thread" where the center would be.This way, you won't get jabbed either, and pins left in fabric can rust and destroy your work!]
SECURING YOUR THREAD...NEVER KNOT YOUR THREAD
Unless working on clothing. Hold one inch of thread behind your fabric and secure with the first few stitches taken; or run needle and thread under several stitches and take a small back stitch. To finish a thread run under four or more stitches on back of design.
READING GRAPHS
To help distinguish colors in intricate designs, shade graphs with colored pencils.
WORKING DESIGNS WITH BACK STITCHING
Complete all Cross Stitches on design before working outline stitches or other accent stitches. When outlining use one(l) less strand of floss than used for Cross Stitch unless otherwise indicated.
MARKING YOUR PLACE
Beginners may find it helpful to baste a line on their fabric every ten or twenty stitches, forming a grid corresponding to the graph.
PUSH AND PULL METHOD
For a smoother stitch use the push and pull method; pushing your needle straight through fabric. Using a sewing method causes a raised effect.
DRAGGING YOUR THREAD
Don't drag threads too far from one area to another. Loose threads, especially dark ones, will show through fabric. When dragging threads, if possible, run thread under worked stitches.
UNTWISTING YOUR THREAD
Threads cover better if lying flat. If thread becomes twisted, drop your needle and thread will untwist by itself.
SECURING END OF THREAD
To finish a thread run under four or more stitches on back of design.
CLEANING COMPLETED WORK
After making sure that fabric and threads are colorfast, briefly soak your completed work in cold water or wash gently in very mild soap if soiled. Do not wring or twist, but roll work in a towel to remove excess moisture. Place work face down on a towel and iron until work is dry. Use warm iron.
WORKING WITH WASTE CANVAS
Definition: Waste canvas is a specially made cross-stitch fabric that is placed (pinned) on top of sweatshirts or other clothing, towels, anything that you wish to place a cross-stitch design on but do not have a base graph to count by.
Cut a piece of waste canvas one inch larger than design size.
Baste waste canvas to fabric.
When design is completed,soak fabric in cold water until completely saturated.
Lay fabric on a towel and pull waste canvas threads out one by one with a pair of tweezers. It is easier if you pull either all vertical or all horizontal threads at one time and then pull at threads going the other direction.
Let fabric dry and place face down on a towel and iron.
DIRECTORY OF STITCHES
BACK STITCH
Working from the right to left, bring needle and thread up at A(middle), go down at B(right of middle), and up again at C(left of middle). Continue in this manner going back down at A(middle).
FRENCH KNOT
Bring the needle and thread up at A. Holding the thread with your left thumb about 1" from A, slip the point of the needle under the thread.
Turn the needle clockwise over the held thread until needle points away from you with thread twisted once around it.
Holding the twisted thread on the needle with your right hand, insert needle close to A. Gently pull thread until it is snug around the needle, not tight.
CROSS STITCH
Imagine a four-corner square: #1 is the lower left corner, #2 is the upper right corner, #3 is the lower right corner, and #4 is the upper right corner. Okay draw this square on a scrap piece of paper and number these corners. Lower left corner #1, upper left corner #4, upper right corner #2 and lower right corner #3.br>
Bring the needle and thread up at #1, down at #2, and up at #3, and down again at #4. You Just Made Your First Stitch! It should look like a X (cross).
But we don't make individual X's across the entire row of the same color number. We do it EASIER!
For rows of Cross Stitch, stitch across entire row in this manner ///// then return \\\\\ -UNDERSTAND? Then it will look like XXXXX.
HALF CROSS
Is indicated on the graph by a slanted line with the color symbol beside it. Make the stitch in the direction of the slanted line. Do not cross these stitches. / or \ .
MAKING CORDING
Also called Welting and Piping. Fold Fabric on the bias (diagonal direction of fabric) and crease lightly; pin. Cut on the fold line. Cut strips parallet to cutting line.
Cut end of strips on a 45 degree angle to the cutting line, on the grain of the fabric. With RIGHT Sides together, piece ends to make one strip long enough for your project.
Place cording in center of WRONG side of strip and fold fabaric over. Using the zipper foot,stitch next to the cord.Trim seam allowances to 1/2".
SMYRNA CROSS
Start with a regular Cross Stitch. For the second cross, come up at middle between #1 & #4,down at middle between #2 & #3, come up again at middle between #1 & #3, and down at middle between #4 & 2.
Purchase Cross-Stitch Pattern & Designs at your favorite Craft Shop or Supplier of Cross-Stitch Products. Books on Cross-Stitch available through Oxmoor House, Birmingham, Alabama.
This page was created June 23,1998.
