Venice Kichura - Cross Stitch 101

Cross Stitch 101

By Venice Kichura

Published by

Venice Kichura on Smashwords

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Cross Stitch 101

Cover art by Venice Kichura

Copyright 2011 VeniceKichura

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Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Copyright 2011 VeniceKichura

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Introduction

Cross stitch is a popular hobby enjoyed bymany people of all ages and cultures. While some stitchers learnthe needlecraft at a young age, such as from a mother orgrandmother, others pick it up later in life, as I did. I firsttoyed with the idea of cross stitching about 15 years ago, butdidnt get serious about learning until around the year 2000. Wehad just moved from South Florida to the Hartford, Connecticut areaand I was looking for a pastime while holed up in my home duringsnowy, wintry days. Living near three good craft stores was anothertrigger.

Throughout the years Ive learned valuabletips that can make stitching more enjoyable. Its my hope that you,too, will feel confident to tackle even those larger projects. Butbe forewarned: stitching is definitely addictive!

History of CrossStitch

Cross Stitching has a long history, datingback to the sixth or seventh centuries A.D. People in EasternEurope decorated their homes and household items with cross stitchfrom floral and geometric patterns found in pattern books.

But this needlecraft reallyblossomed in the 18 th and 19 th centuries with the popularity of cross stitchsamplers. Early American settlers took materials they brought withthem from Europe for stitching samplers. Rather than copy theneedlework of the Old World, they made their own folk art, usingtheir European embroidery techniques. Samplers served aseducational tools for teaching children and young girls needleworkskills for making clothing and household items. Some of the manyhousehold items they made, done in the half-stitch and full crossstitch, included purses, cushions, fire screens, pincushions andcushion fronts. Native American Indians copied the colonists, usingtheir traditional materials, such as moose hair and porcupinequills, for cross stitching.

Hand-colored charts where first produced inBerlin, Germany in 1835, which were followed by color-printedcharts. Soon these charts were sold with a variety of colorfulwoods and canvases as Berlin wool work became popular. Shadingwas introduced, making designs more realistic.

The type of cross stitching we know todayresurfaced in the 1960s as a result of more leisure time. Modernmanufacturing process, such as weaving, dyeing and color printinghave made possible the many types of cross stitch designs and kitssold today. And, thanks to computer technology, such as advancedcolor printing and photocopying, contemporary cross stitchers cantake advantage of computer software for creating their ownpatterns.

Threads

There are so many different types of threadsavailable today that it can overwhelming for new stitchers if theydont know what type is best suited for them and their particularprojects. They come in a large range of plain and random-dyedcolors for special effects. While some are versatile and suited formost types of embroidery, others are intended for a particularuse.

Six-Stranded Floss

Brands offering several hundred colors, alongwith shades of each color, are the most popular products. The mostwidely used floss is DMC, six-strand embroidery floss. Otherwell-known brands include Anchor, J.P. Coats and Dimensions.

Six-stranded floss, used for most crossstitch work, are the ones most commonly sold. Because they can beseparated and strands can be combined with other colors, they arevery versatile types of threads.

Stitching with variegated or mottled coloredthreads can give an impressionist effect, subtly adding depth andmovement to your color without seeming obvious. Blending variegatedfloss with a matching metallic color, such as light gray andsilver, gold or light yellow, can produce similar effects.

Identifying threads

Most threads or flosscolors can be identified by a shade or name of a skeinbrand or spool label. If you remove the label, just be sure yourecord the shade number. Ziploc bags are ideal for storing usedfloss.

Fabrics

Most cross stitch work is done on Aida,hardanger or linen fabric.

Aida fabric

Aida is better for aging eyes as the squaresare larger and the tiny holes in the fabric are helpful for placingstitches. Although it usually comes in white, Aida fabric is alsoavailable in colors, such as pink, blue or even black. Sizes rangefrom 11 to 18. Size 11 fabric means there are 11 squares per inch,meaning the squares are larger. As sizes increase in number, thesquares are smaller.

Hardanger fabric

Hardanger, which comes in 22-count and24-count fabrics, is made the same way as Aida, although it hassmaller squares. Because the squares are smaller, theyre suitedfor cutting and withdrawing threads.

Linen fabric

Unlike Aida fabric, linen doesnt havesquares. Linen, a specific type of evenweave fabric used for crossstitch embroidery, contains the same number of threads per linearinch, horizontally and vertically.

Waste canvas

Waste canvas, a loosely woven canvas thatsstiffened with water-soluble glue, is made to fall apart when wet.This type of canvas is for working counted thread designs on plainfabric. After cross stitching a design, the canvas is removed.

Gingham fabric

Gingham fabric contains squares, making it agood fabric for stitching simple, small projects. Just be sure thesquares are perfect squares so your design wont be distorted. Thistype of fabric is also used for chicken scratch embroidery.

Strands Needed for DifferentSizes of Aida Fabrics

Most any type of six-stranded cottonembroidery floss can be used for cross stitch. Six-stranded flosscan be easily separated for working with one, two or three strandsas needed by the fabric. Larger mesh fabric requires more strands,while fabric with smaller squares or mesh only uses one or twostrands.

For example, Aida fabric with 11 stitches perinch requires three strands and is done with a tapestry needle sizeof 24. Aida fabrics with 14 stitches per inch need less coverage,so only two strands are needed. Use a needle size of 24 or 26 forworking in 14-count Aida. Even less is needed for 18-count Aidafabric, as it takes just one strand to cover a square. However, fora thicker look, go ahead and use two strands. Sizes 24 or 26 sizeneedles are also used for 18-count fabric. And, of course only onestrand is needed to cover squares for Hardanger fabric in whichthere are 22 stitches per inch. This fabric also is done with a 24or 26 size tapestry needle.

Cut floss about 18 to 20 long, althoughmetallic threads or fibers with rough surfaces should be cutslightly shorter so they wont fray.

Pearl Cotton Floss

Pearl cotton is a single strand, so you cantsplit it into individual strands. This floss is a twisted threadwith a glossy finish thats suited for most projects until stitchesneed to be blended together. It comes in four different weights,including numbers 3, 5, 8 and 12. The lower the number, the heavieris the weight of the thread.

Hoops, Frames andQ-snaps

Stitches use from simpleembroidery hoops to various types of stretcher frames and Q-snapsfor holding their fabric tight and taut while theyrestitching.

Embroidery hoops

Embroidery hoops consist of two plastic orwooden rings. The outer ring is pushed over the inner ring to keepthe fabric place. Dont use plastic hoops for heavy fabrics.Usually the outer ring of a wooden hoop is adjusted by screws,which allows for various weights of fabric. Embroidery hoops arentthe best choice because they can leave marks on a fabric. If you douse them place tissue paper or tape between the hoops and yourfabric to prevent hoop marks from forming.