Counted Cross Stitch

Counted Cross Stitch Can Be Addictive

Counted cross stitch can be fun and is a great stress-reliever for many.  I have been doing counted cross stitch for 20 years. I usually spend a couple hours in the evening working on my latest project and if for some reason I can’t, I tend to get grumpy. There’s something about the simple art of pulling your floss through the fabric, making tiny little x’s and watching a beautiful picture emerge. I have decorated my house with my own artwork and also give a lot of them away as presents. They are always well received and it is really great to walk into someone else’s house or office and see something you made hanging on their wall.
 
The easiest way to get started with counted cross stitch is to purchase a kit. Counted cross stitch kits vary in difficulty, but there are many out there for beginners. The kit will have everything you need, including the fabric, floss, needle and complete instructions.  The most common, of course, is something you would make to hang on your wall, whether it is 5”x7” or as big as 16”x20”. Counted cross stitch kits can come in many forms, like magnets, coasters, switchplate covers, mousepads, eyeglass cases, pillowcases, calendars, Christmas ornaments, baby blankets, or even quilting squares. You can make birth and wedding announcements that will be cherished for years to come. The variety is endless and all are fun to do!
 
Getting Started:
When starting your first counted cross stitch kit, you will need to find the center of your fabric. You can do this by folding the fabric in half vertically, then horizontally. Mark the center with a needle or piece of thread.  Next is to sort the colors of the floss. Some kits do this for you, but if not, you simply look at the key and do it yourself. You then look at the chart and key. Each stitch is shown on the chart by a symbol. Once you’ve located a symbol on the chart, find it in your key. The key tells you the color and number of strands to use for each symbol.  To start, you follow the arrows at the edge of the chart to find the center. This starting point matches the center of your fabric that you marked earlier.
 
Helpful hints for counted cross stitch:

1. Start with something small and simple. My first project was a set of four cat magnets that I gave to my grandmother for Christmas.

2. You will need to purchase a scroll or hoop to hold your fabric taut while doing counted cross stitch. If  you use a hoop, be sure to remove it when you are not working so that it doesn’t leave

3. Start at the top of the fabric and work down, if possible. The floss lays better and your picture unfolds before your eyes!

4. I have also found that if you do the lighter colors first and the darker colors last, your counted cross stitch picture looks sharper and more defined when finished.