Cross Stitch and Craft Kits

CROSS STITCH GUIDANCE NOTES

INTRODUCTION
Each square on the printed chart represents one cross stitch on the fabric. Each symbol represents a different colour (see the organiser card).
A complete square with a symbol requires a full cross stitch:-

A square split by a diagonal line requires one or two half-stitches:-

GETTING READY
Push the outer ring of the embroidery hoop off the inner ring. Place the inner ring on a table, and lay the fabric exactly centrally over it. Carefully push the outer ring over the fabric on to the inner ring, making sure that the fabric stays flat.

STARTING
Note that each thread on the organiser card is made up of six strands. Use only two strands for stitching (unless the kit instructions say otherwise). Save the other strands carefully. Thread the needle with the relevant colour thread, but don’t tie a knot at the end.

Find the exact middle of the printed pattern by counting the squares. If the pattern is printed on several sheets, you may find it helpful to join these sections. If doing so, cut off the left and right hand sides, back to where the pattern starts. On Abacus Designs patterns, there are normally two rows of squares on each side without symbols, so you can cut these off.

Find the exact middle of the fabric by counting the holes. Start stitching from this central position, and follow the pattern.

STITCHING
To sew a full cross stitch, push the needle through the bottom right hand hole from behind the fabric. Leave the last ¾” (2 cm) of the thread behind. You should carefully sew over this with the first few stitches, to stop it pulling through. Don’t tie knots in the thread – they will show!

Then sew through the hole diagonally opposite (top left). Next, taking the needle behind the fabric, pull it out through the bottom left hole, across to the empty top right hole. This completes one full cross stitch. Then carry on in any direction across the fabric, sewing each stitch following exactly the same sequence.

Half stitches also have two parts, but the second stops in the centre, and you have to push the needle through the fabric itself, not through a hole. There are four possible positions:-

When you have finished an area of all the same colour, finish off by neatly threading under a few stitches on the back, before cutting the thread.

Again, avoid knots, which will show. For the same reason, don’t carry the thread over to the next place. Finish off before starting again.

HAVE FUN!!