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    Cross Stitching for beginners

    🧵 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

    Heart Eyes Mini Emoji free pattern