Cross Stitch for Beginners: How to Start, Fabric Count Chart and First Supplies

How to cross stitch, step by step

1. Choose a beginner kit. Pick a kit on 14 count Aida with presorted floss, a needle and a chart. The Dimensions Garden Bouquet and Janlynn Joy in the Journey are both 14 count. For a one-evening sampler, the tiny Bucilla My 1st Stitch Bee is 3 in across and includes a plastic frame.
2. Prepare the fabric. Check that the fabric is at least 3 in larger than the design on every side. Tape or zigzag the raw edges so they do not fray, then fold the fabric in half both ways and pinch the folds. Where the creases cross is the center.
3. Put the fabric in a frame. Mount the center area in a hoop or a snap frame such as the Q-Snap 11x11 and tighten until the fabric is taut like a drum. Taut fabric makes even stitches; loose fabric puckers.
4. Cut and separate the floss. Cut an 18 in length of six-strand floss. Pull out one strand at a time by gently sliding it free from the end, and recombine two strands for 14 count. Wind the rest of each color onto numbered floss bobbins so colors do not get mixed up.
5. Start without a knot. Knots make lumps under framed work. Bring the needle up from the back and leave a 1 in tail behind the fabric, then hold the tail flat so your first few stitches cover and lock it. With two strands you can also use a loop start: fold one long strand in half, thread the cut ends, and pass the needle through the loop on the back after the first half stitch.
6. Find the chart center and make the first stitch. Charts mark the center with arrows on the edges. Count from the center to the nearest symbol, then come up in the bottom left hole of that square and go down in the top right, making a half stitch (/). Cross it by coming up bottom right and going down top left (\).
7. Stitch in rows. For a run of one color, work all the half stitches across the row first, then come back across the row making the crossing stitches. This is often called the Danish method and gives a neat back. For single scattered stitches, complete each X before moving on. Keep every top leg slanting the same way.
8. Add backstitch last. Once the cross stitches are finished, outline shapes with one strand of floss in backstitch if the chart calls for it. Backstitch sits on top of the crosses, so working it last keeps lines crisp.
9. Finish each thread. On the back, slide the needle under three or four nearby stitches of the same or a darker color and trim close with fine scissors such as the Gingher Stork Scissors. Avoid carrying floss across more than a few empty squares, since long strands can show through light fabric.
10. Wash and press. Rinse the finished piece gently in cool water if the floss is colorfast, roll it in a towel to remove water, then press it face down on a towel so the stitches stay raised.

Is cross stitch easy to learn for beginners?

Yes. Cross stitch is one of the easiest needlecrafts to start because the fabric does the measuring for you. Aida, the standard beginner fabric, is woven in small square blocks with a visible hole at each corner. Each cross stitch covers one block, so a chart square becomes one fabric square with no guessing.

What beginners find harder is not the stitch but the counting: keeping your place on the chart and getting stitches in the right holes. Three habits solve most of it:

• Work outward from the center, so the design ends up centered for framing.
• Mark off stitched areas on a photocopy of the chart with a highlighter.
• Count in groups of ten. Most charts print a heavier grid line every 10 squares; match those lines to groups of 10 Aida blocks.

Good light helps as much as any technique. A 14 count square is 1/14 of an inch across, and under a warm living room bulb, similar floss colors can look almost identical. See the cross stitch stitch guide for close-up diagrams of the stitch itself.

What size cross stitch fabric should a beginner use?

Fabric count is the number of stitches per inch. Higher counts mean smaller stitches, finer detail and a smaller finished design from the same chart. For a first project, 14 count Aida is the sweet spot: the holes are easy to see, it is the most common count for kits and patterns, and it uses two strands of floss with a size 24 tapestry needle.

Evenweave and linen have single threads instead of blocks, and most patterns place each stitch over two threads, so 28 count over two gives the same 14 stitches per inch as 14 count Aida. It looks softer and more traditional but takes more careful counting. Our Aida vs linen comparison covers the switch, and the full cross stitch fabric count chart lists every count from 6 to 40.

How do you calculate cross stitch fabric size?

The math has two parts. First, divide the design's stitch count by the fabric's stitches per inch to get the finished size. Second, add fabric around it for framing or finishing, usually about 3 in on each side, which adds 6 in to both the width and the height.

Example: a design 84 stitches wide on 14 count finishes at 84 / 14 = 6 in wide. Add 6 in of margin and you cut the fabric 12 in wide. The same chart on 18 count finishes at about 4.7 in, so changing the count is also a way to make a design smaller or larger.

Round the cut size up to the next half inch; a little extra margin never hurts, while too little makes framing difficult. The cross stitch fabric calculator does this for any count, including linen stitched over two. A large piece such as the Charles Craft Aida 14ct, 30 x 36 in for about $17, cuts into several projects of the 80 x 100 stitch size above.

How many strands of embroidery floss do you use for cross stitch?

Six-strand embroidery floss comes in skeins of 8 m (about 8.7 yd), with six thin strands loosely twisted together. You separate the strands and use only as many as the fabric count needs: 3 on 11 count, 2 on 14 and 16 count, and 1 or 2 on 18 count. Too many strands crowd the holes and look lumpy; too few let the fabric show through.

How far a skein goes depends on count, strands and how much floss travels across the back. On 14 count with 2 strands, published estimates range from about 960 to about 1,800 full crosses per skein, and about 1,000 to 1,500 is a practical planning figure. Buy an extra skein for any large area of one color, since dye lots can vary. The cross stitch floss calculator estimates skeins from your stitch counts.

Most charts list colors by DMC number. A starter library such as the DMC Floss 100 Colors, 100 different colors for about $63, covers many free and purchased charts once you move beyond kits. For more on floss, pearl cotton and wool, see the floss and thread chart.

Should you use a hoop or Q-Snap for cross stitch?

Any holder that keeps fabric taut works. The choice comes down to project size, portability and how your hands and wrists feel after an hour.

Hoops leave a ring in Aida if the fabric stays clamped between sessions, so take the work out when you stop. Snap frames grip with four clamps and leave less of a mark. Once you know you enjoy the craft, a stand is the upgrade owners mention most: with the frame held for you, one hand works above the fabric and one below, which is faster and easier on wrists and shoulders. Compare stands in the best cross stitch floor stands, and see Q-Snap vs scroll frame for bigger projects.

What are the most common cross stitch mistakes?

Nearly every beginner makes a few of these. None are disasters, and all are easy to avoid once you know them.

1. Miscounting. Count twice, stitch once, and check each new area against a stitched neighbor.
2. Mixed crossing directions. Top legs that slant different ways look patchy. Keep one direction.
3. Knots on the back. They make bumps under framing. Use a tail or loop start.
4. Pulling too tight. Tight stitches distort the holes and let fabric show.
5. Too long a thread. Floss over about 18 in tangles and wears thin.
6. Carrying colors across gaps. Long jumps shadow through pale fabric. End and restart instead.

What is the best light and magnifier for cross stitch?

Most stitchers find two things make counting far easier: light with high color accuracy, and a little magnification for finer fabrics. Look for a lamp rated 90 or higher on the color rendering index (CRI), ideally 95+, at a daylight color temperature around 5,000 to 6,500K, placed on the side opposite your stitching hand so your hand does not shade the work.

• At a table: the OttLite Prevention Magnifier, about $72, combines 95+ CRI light with a 1.7x magnifier and a 3.4x spot viewer.
• Beside a chair: the Daylight Magnificent Pro, about $198, is a floor lamp with a 1.75X lens and up to 5,500 lux.
• A large lens: the Brightech LightView Pro Floor, about $115, holds a 6.5 x 4 in glass lens on a 24 in gooseneck.

Choose the lowest magnification that lets you see clearly, since stronger lenses narrow the area in focus. If your eyesight has changed, see an eye care professional. Compare the options in magnifier lamp vs magnifying visor and the best magnifiers for cross stitch.