How To Cross Stitch for Beginners (Start to End Cross Stitch)

Hello, welcome back to our blog. We created this article specifically for beginners who want to learn cross stitch embroidery.

For those of you who are completely new to cross stitch embroidery, this article will be very helpful in expanding your knowledge. Before starting your first project, you should understand the basics of cross stitch embroidery.

We’ve provided step-by-step instructions with pictures to make it easy for you to follow, from threading the needle to cutting the excess thread.

Making cross stitch is not as difficult as you think. In this article, we will share two things that beginners should know how to start and end cross stitch.

If you need more simple design to practice after this tutorial, you can also visit these collections.

Start with the easiest patterns first (look for simple flowers, border or bookmark)

How To Start Cross Stitch
How To End Cross Stitch
Tips For Neat Cross Stitch

How To Start Cross Stitch

For the first step, we will make a straight line instead of an image. Prepare yarn, needle, and cross stitch fabric. If the tools and materials needed are ready, let’s start stitching.

Step 1

Insert the yarn into the needle. The length of the yarn should not be too long because it can interfere with the stitching process. Sometimes even threads that are too long will get tangled. The length of the yarn is also not too short because it is not effective if you just started stitching the yarn has run out. The length of the yarn that we use is about 40 cm.

Insert the yarn into the needle

Step 2

Position the yarn of unequal lengths

Yarn position before starting cross stitch

Step 3

Insert the needle from the back of the cross stitch fabric then pull and leave a yarn about 3 cm.

insert the needle from the back of the cross stitch fabric

leave about 3 cm of yarn

Step 4

Press the remaining yarn on the back of the cross stitch fabric by hand. Then pin the needle on the front of the cross stitch fabric to form a half cross. Don’t forget the back yarn is also pinched. We usually embroider with one cross consist of 3 x 3 dots.

the back yarn is pressed by hand

The front of cross stitch fabric

The back of the Cross stitch fabric

Step 5

Continue half crosses up with free numbers to practice. Don’t forget to slide the needle when embroidering to avoid double yarns.

Make a half cross

Step 6

If you have made several half crosses up then complete the embroidery into one whole cross by embroidering it down.

Complements one cross

The length of the yarn that we use is about 40 cm.

HOW TO END CROSS STITCH

Step 7

If you are at the very bottom of finishing the cross stitch, insert the needle so that it is at the back of the cross stitch fabric.

The needle is on the back of the cross stitch fabric

Step 8

Next, insert the needle into the yarn. It doesn’t have to be all the remaining yarn to go into the sidelines of the yarn, about 3 – 5 are enough.

Insert the needle sidelines the yarn

Step 9

After the yarn is tucked in, cut the rest yarn but not too short. Leave about 2-3 cm.

Cut the excess yarn with scissors

Step 10

This is the result of straight line of cross stitch. It’s easy right?

The front of the cross stitch fabric

The back of the cross stitch fabric

Next, you can make cross stitch embroidery based on a pattern. For more details, you can read the article How to Cross Stitch Step by Step for Beginner (full guide for beginners).

If you don’t have cross stitch patterns yet, you can download for free from our collections:

Stitch one color first until finished, then move to the next color, so you don’t have to change the yarn too often.

Tips For Neat Cross Stitch

We will share one tip on how to cross stitch neatly so that your cross stitch results are neat. The tip we share is to embroider in one direction.

For example, if you start embroidering in a direction to the right for the half cross and complete the cross in a direction to the left, then try to embroider in a direction to the right so on for the half cross and complete the cross by embroidering to the left.

You don’t have to embroider in a direction to the right for the half cross. This is adjusted to your individual tastes. If you prefer the half cross to the left that’s fine too. The important thing is that you have to be consistent in the same direction so that the results of the cross stitch are neat.

2 Examples of Cross Stitch

In the following below, we will show you 2 examples of cross stitch embroidery which are embroidered in same direction and various directions.

Example 1

Embroidery with various directions

Embroidery in the same direction

Comparison of 2 cross stitch embroidery results (left : embroidery with various direction, right : embroidery in the same direction)

Example 2

Embroidery in the same direction

Embroidery with various directions

Comparison of 2 cross stitch embroidery results (upper : embroidery with same direction, bottom : embroidery in the various direction)

Stitch in the same direction are neater than various direction.

From the two examples above, it can be seen that those embroidered in the same direction are neater than those embroidered various direction. Hopefully these tips are useful, especially for beginners who are learning cross stitch.

If you’re a complete beginner, I hope this tutorial is useful. Take your time, start with smaller designs and build your confidence step by step.

Don’t worry if your stitches are not perfect on the first try. Cross stitch is all about practice and enjoying the process, not perfection.

When you’re ready, you can explore more free patterns and tutorials in the other articles we have shared.

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Thank you for visiting

Happy stitching

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How To Cross Stitch for Beginners (Start to End Cross Stitch)

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