🧵 How to Cross Stitch – A Beginner’s Guide

Welcome to the wonderful world of cross stitch! Whether you're completely new or just need a little refresher, this guide will walk you through the basics of this relaxing and rewarding hobby. Let’s get started!

✨ What You’ll Need:

• A cross stitch pattern – You can browse digital PDF patterns right here on Stitch My Heart!
  

• Aida fabric – The most common type is 14 count, perfect for beginners.
  

• Embroidery hoop – Keeps your fabric nice and tight while you stitch.
  

• Embroidery floss – Usually DMC threads, which come in hundreds of beautiful colours.
  

• Needle – A blunt-ended tapestry needle, size 24 or 26 is ideal.
  

• Scissors – Small and sharp for neat cutting.
  

🪡 Step-by-Step: How to Start Cross Stitching

1. Read Your Pattern

Your pattern will be a grid of symbols. Each symbol represents a colour of thread. You’ll usually get:

• A full-colour chart
  

• A black and white chart
  

• A key (legend) showing which colours match each symbol
  

2. Prepare Your Fabric

• Cut your Aida a bit larger than your pattern size to allow room for framing.
  

• Use your hoop to secure the area you’ll be stitching.
  

3. Thread Your Needle

Most embroidery floss is made of 6 strands. Patterns usually use 2 strands for stitching. Separate out 2 strands, thread your needle, and you’re ready to go!

4. Start Stitching

• Begin from the centre of the pattern and the centre of your fabric (many charts have arrows to help find the middle).
  

• Make one diagonal stitch from bottom left to top right.
  

• Then cross over it from bottom right to top left. That’s one cross stitch!
  

• Keep your stitches tidy by always crossing in the same direction.
  

5. Follow the Chart

Continue stitching by following your pattern symbol by symbol, colour by colour. You can use a highlighter or app like Pattern Keeper to keep track of where you are.

💡 Tips for Beginners

• Don’t pull your stitches too tight – they should lie flat but not distort the fabric.
  

• Take breaks to rest your eyes and hands.
  

• Mistakes happen! Unpicking a few stitches is totally normal.
  

Enjoy the process – it’s meant to be fun and calming.

Heres one of our Mini's for free to practice! :D