Cross Stitch Basics Tutorial - NeedleLot Designs

A Beginner's Guide To Cross Stitch

If you're on this page, you've probably decided to start cross stitching! Wonderful decision, you won't regret it! This hobby is a delight to the mind and soul, and lets you craft truly beautiful things with needle and thread.

If you're a complete beginner, or just feeling a little rusty, read on for a friendly guide to the basics!

I already know the basics, take me to the beginner patterns! →

Counted Cross Stitch: What Is It?

This guide focuses on what's known as 'counted' cross stitch. It refers to stitching onto a blank piece of fabric while following a chart and counting to place each stitch in the right spot. This is different from printed or stamped cross stitch, where the design is already marked directly onto the fabric and you simply stitch over it.

All NeedleLot Designs patterns are counted cross stitch patterns.

Reading A Chart

A cross stitch chart is made up of a grid of tiny squares, many of which are marked with a color and symbol. Each symbol corresponds to a specific thread number, listed in the pattern key, and represents one full cross stitch on your fabric.

Cross stitch charts also come with a few handy features. The center of the chart is marked by two intersecting red lines, which you can locate by following the arrows along the sides of the pattern. You'll also notice numbers running along the edges, marking every 10 stitches - this is especially useful if you like to grid your fabric before you begin.

Most stitchers start in the middle of both their fabric and their pattern. If you adopt this technique, you essentially work your way outwards! It ensures your design stays well-positioned and that you won't find yourself running out of fabric before the last stitch.

Choosing Fabric

There are different types of fabric that are suitable for cross stitch. Aida is the most common one, and the one you should opt for if you are a beginner! It has a clear grid with bigger holes, which allows for easy stitching. All fabric comes in different 'counts', which indicate how many stitches fit into 1 inch (2.5 cm) of fabric. For example, 14-count Aida has 14 stitches per inch (around 5 ½ stitches per cm). The most common counts are 14, 16, and 18. The higher the fabric count number, the smaller your stitches will be. For beginners, I recommend starting with 14-count or 16-count Aida.

Evenweave and linen are lovely fabrics too, but they typically require a different stitching technique, which you don't need to worry about just yet!

Plastic canvas is not a fabric in the technical sense but it is definitely great for beginners too, with its clearly defined holes. It allows you to create durable cross stitch items for everyday use, such as bookmarks or keychains. For a fun example, see this tutorial.

Fabric brands that I personally like are Zweigart® and Wichelt-Permin. Wichelt-Permin is sometimes also listed as Wichelt, Permin, or Permin of Copenhagen. Both brands are excellent options. They’re durable, colorfast, and easy to source.

Cutting Fabric

Before you begin stitching, it's important to figure out how large your piece of fabric needs to be. Your pattern will include dimensions and size details on the final stitched area based on your fabric count - make sure to cut your fabric large enough to fit the design comfortably, with plenty of margin to spare. I recommend cutting your fabric 8in/20cm larger than the stitched area. This makes stitching much more comfortable and makes framing your project a lot easier once you're finished!

Embroidery Thread

For cross stitch you will also need embroidery thread. Most embroidery thread (also called “floss”) is soft, durable, and sold in skeins. It consists of six strands and is typically made of cotton.

When cross stitching, you don't generally use all six strands of floss at once. Instead, you can cut a length of thread (typically 18in/45cm) and separate out only what you need. As a rule, I recommend using three strands for 14-count fabric, two strands for 16-count fabric, and two strands for 18-count fabric. Personally, I prefer a high coverage look because it helps colors appear rich and vibrant. My personal favorite combo for this is two strands on 16-count fabric.

The patterns in my shop are all designed with six-stranded floss by DMC®, a very popular brand known for its vibrant colors, durability, and wide availability.

Other Necessities

To start your first cross stitch pattern, you will want to grab a few tools. Below are some of the items you may want to include in your project bag, listed from most essential to completely optional.

Needle

Perhaps unsurprisingly, you’ll need a needle for your cross stitch project! For this craft, a blunt-tipped needle is best, since you’ll be using perforated fabric and want to avoid creating new holes (plus, not stabbing yourself as often is a nice bonus). This type of needle is called a tapestry needle. A size 24 or 26 tapestry needle suffices for most cross stitch projects.

Bobbins

When juggling many colors for a project, it can become difficult to tell which color is which without some form of labeling. Bobbins come in handy here: These are small wooden, plastic, or cardboard cards that you can wind your threads around. Each bobbin can be marked with the corresponding thread number. They’re typically stored in specially designed boxes that let you sort your thread by color or number. In my opinion, this form of organization makes stitching a breeze!

Scissors

For this craft, you’ll want to own at least two pairs of scissors: one small pair for cutting threads (in my experience, the smaller the better!) and a large pair of scissors for cutting fabric. Be sure to tell your loved ones it’s a crime to use either pair for anything other than thread or fabric because sharpness is crucial!

Embroidery Hoop

Embroidery hoops have one job: keeping your fabric taut whilst you stitch. It's not a required tool - plenty of people find that they enjoy stitching 'in hand' just as much. If you do want to work with a hoop however, look for one that's high quality and meant for stitching rather than displaying.

Onto The Actual Stitching!

Below I share with you how to form a cross stitch, as well as techniques and hacks for creating beautiful work that you're proud of!

Cross Stitch

To start a cross stitch, bring your needle up from the back of the fabric to the front, and make a diagonal stitch across one square of the fabric, from bottom left to top right or from bottom right to top left. Then bring the needle back down through the fabric. To complete the stitch, do the same thing in the opposite direction. You’ve now created a tiny “X.” This is one square of your pattern and one cross stitch!

There are different ways to build up rows of stitches, and one of the most common is the so-called Danish method. With this method, you first work a row of half stitches, all in the same direction. Then you come back across the row to complete the X’s. This approach can save time and help keep the back of your fabric a bit neater. It’s also strongly recommended to work your top stitches into the same direction, regardless of if you’re using the Danish method.

Backstitch

Unlike cross stitch, which forms little “X” shapes, backstitch uses straight, sometimes elongated stitches to outline or add detail. Backstitch is added after all the whole cross stitches of a pattern are done.

To work the backstitch, bring your needle up at the starting point and follow the line indicated on the pattern, completing a stitch. Then, move forward one space and bring the needle back down at the end of the previous stitch to create a continuous line. Backstitch usually requires only one thread, unless indicated otherwise.

Most NeedleLot Designs patterns only use whole cross stitches. Backstitches are only used sparingly in my patterns.

Starting & Ending Your Thread

When you begin your first (cross) stitch, your needle will have a loose tail of thread hanging from the back of the fabric. To prevent it from slipping through, you’ll need to anchor it. There are a couple of simple ways to do this. One option is to tie a small knot at the end of your thread so that it stays in place. This works fine, especially for beginners, but some stitchers prefer a neater method called a loop start. The loop start method only works when you’re stitching with two strands of thread. Instead of cutting two separate strands, you can cut one strand that is twice the length you need, then fold it in half. Thread the two loose ends through your needle, leaving the folded end as a small loop. When you make your first stitch and bring the needle to the back of the fabric, you can pass the needle through that loop to secure the thread. No knot needed!

Once you’ve got a few stitches in place, another reliable method of securing your thread is to run your needle and thread underneath the stitches on the back of your work. This is a clean and secure way to anchor both starting and ending threads.

Finishing & Care

Finished cross-stitch projects are usually easy to care for, but if you want to keep them looking beautiful over time, giving them a gentle wash can help. As you stitch, fabric and thread absorb oils from your hands, and even if they aren’t visible, these oils may cause yellowing over time. To prevent this, soak your finished piece in lukewarm water with a mild soap, gently rub over the stitched areas, then rinse and lay it flat to dry. Once your project is dry, you can move on to ironing and adding the final touches. Just be sure to check that your fabric and threads are colorfast before washing so that the colors don’t bleed!

Cross stitch opens up a wonderful world of creative finishing possibilities! While framing and hanging your work is always a great option, you can also mount your piece on foam board for a polished look, or turn it into something functional like a plastic canvas bookmark, a keychain, or a project bag. For a more traditional display, a wall hanging or bell pull is a beautiful choice. You can even stitch directly onto everyday items like clothing, towels, or tablecloths to add a personal, handmade touch. The possibilities are endless!

Now That You Know The Basics...

It's time to get some practical experience in! Which beginner pattern will you choose? NeedleLot Designs offers a range of patterns that are small and easy - perfect to start with!

I'm ready! Take me to the beginner patterns →