How To Cross Stitch Step By Step For Beginners

A few days ago we shared an article on How to Cross Stitch without a pattern using a simple straight line. You can read in the article How to Cross Stitch for Beginners. This time, we will share How to Cross Stitch Step by Step Based on cross stitch pattern. We make this tutorial especially suitable for beginners.

In this tutorial, we turn a sketch of rose in a blue cup into a cross stitch pattern. You can download the pattern for free in 20 Free Rose Cross Stitch Patterns (From Simple to Detailed).

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

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.

Rose Sketch

We create this rose patterns ourselves, from sketches to cross stitch patterns. So, you’ll only find these beautiful patterns on our blog. You can see the sketch below.

Sketch of rose in the blue cup

Tools and Materials You Need

After you download the pattern, the next step is to prepare wool yarn, cross stitch fabric, cross stitch patterns, scissors, and needles.

Tools and materials needed

Cross Stitch Pattern

Print the pattern to make it easier for you to cross stitch.

Printed cross stitch pattern

Cross Stitch Fabric

Cut the cross stitch fabric to the size of 16 x 11 cm. Then sew the edge of the cross stitch fabric so it doesn’t come off. There are two ways so that the edge of the cross stitch fabric doesn’t come off when embroidered, read the article here.

Cross sitch fabric that has been sewn on the edges

Scissors

scissors

Needle

You can prepare one or more needles. Usually, we use one or two needles for small images. Meanwhile, for images that are larger and have more colors, we use three needles or more so that we don’t have to put on and take off the needles all the time when we have to change yarn colors.

needle

Wool Yarn

We use wool yarn more often than embroidery thread. In this rose pattern, we used five wool yarn which are two different colors of green, two different colors of red, and blue.

Wool yarn

Once your tools and materials are ready, the next step is to choose a simple pattern for beginners, I recommend starting with:

Sew the edge of the cross stitch fabric so it doesn’t come off

Step by Step to Make Cross Stitch

If all the tools and materials are ready, now is the time for us to make cross stitch

Step 1

The first step that we usually do is find the middle of the pattern by making vertical lines and horizontal lines. We will make the meeting point a mark to start with.

Please note that finding the midpont does not count from the empty box, but from the corner of the box which is part of the pattern.

For the middle of the vertical lines is calculated from the most corner pattern box at the top and the bottom. While for the middle of the horizontal line calculated from the most corner pattern box in the section rifght and left.

Make a vertical line

Make a horizontal line

The circled 5 is the midpoint of the pattren

Step 2

After determining the midpoint of the pattern, then determine the midpoint of the cross stitch fabric. How to determine it can be folded into 4 parts or measured with a ruler. We mark the midpoint of the cross stich fabric with a needle.

Cross stitch fabric that has been marked in the midpoint

Step 3

The midpoint of the pattern that has been obtained from STEP 1 is wool yarn with code 5 which is green. Prepare the yarn then start stitching from the midpoint of the cross stitch fabric. You can stitch up or down it doesn’t matter. But what is important for you to pay attention to is stitching in the same direction so that the results of the cross stitch are neat.

For beginners who are still confused about how to start cross stitching, please visit the article on how to cross stitch for beginners here.

Insert the needle from the back of the cross stitch fabric

start from the midpoint of the cross stitch fabric

embroider in the same direction so that the results are neat

The part of the stalk that has been embroidered

Step 4

After the stalk is finished embroidering, then embroider the other parts. There are no provisions which you have to embroider first. You are free to continue whether you want the leaves first, the cup or the flowers. However, if you choose the flower part, I suggest embroidering first with the part coded 2 to make it easier for you to embroider. It will be easier if you embroider the side adjacent to the stem.

Embroidery process

Step 5

It’s easy and fun to make cross stitch, right? Especially if you see the results of this beautiful rose cross stitch. You can frame it with glass frames or make your own frame out of paper.

finished rose cross stitch

Close up of finished rose cross stitch

The back of the finished rose cross stitch

rose cross stitch framed with paper frame

Work with short yarn length to avoid knots.

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.

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

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Thank you for visiting

Happy stitching

Ready for more free patterns?

Now that you know how to cross stitch from start to finish, here some collections you can explore next:

How To Cross Stitch Step By Step For Beginners

Rose Sketch