Readers Respond: What Cross Stitch Rules Do You Follow?

Responses: 14

By Connie G. Barwick, About.com Guide

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Share your general rules to follow when starting to Cross Stitch to help improve your stitching experience. Share Cross Stitch Rules

When starting at the top left, where do you begin? 2 inches in, 1 inch in? I always started in the center, but these new patterns I'm receiving will be starting at the top left corner...
—Guest Patience

I always read about starting from the center, but I always make a mistake. Thats why i always start from the top left-hand corner of the design and work my way from there.. to each his/her own i guess :)
—Guest Priyanka

I will be forever grateful to the clerk at Ben Franklins who taught me how to stitch on the top of the fabric instead of using the "stab" to the back method where you have to move your hand to the back of the fabric and then push the needle through to the front. Simply bring needle up at 1 and then, in one motion, down at 2 and up at 3. Again, in one motion, down at 4 and up at 1. It is amazing how much faster you can go using this method. It takes a little time to get used to it, but once you get the hang of it you'll never go back.
—Guest Kathleen

Try as I may, my back side doesn't look that neat. So whatever I stitch, I have to cover the back up with material which is fine as I think it adds character. For example in my bookmarks I am stitching, I take a piece of fabric that is complimentary color to the design and sew it on. This way both sides are lovely to look at, and as a bookmark the stitches never unravel.
—catallnee

When I first started stitching, if I made ANY mistake, I'd completely undo the project and start over. As you can imagine, that took up a lot of time and effort. Then one day someone said to me "no one will even know that's not the way it's supposed to be, leave it and it becomes uniquely yours." Great idea! Of course if it greatly alters the project, it must be corrected. :)
—Guest Suzanne

Always try to use daylightime for cross stitch particularly if you are using similar shades of blue.
—Guest jean.young

If the pattern calls for 2 strands of the same color I cut one strand twice my working length. I then fold it in half, thread the loose ends through my needle. When I make the first stitch, I pass the needle through the loop and pull it tight. It locks the thread in place. I love this because I don't have to keep track of the thread end and I don't have to worry about stitching over it.
—Guest Wulfie

To avoid 'stress' get up and move every 15 mins. this helps all of your body to relax, as well as prevent pain.
—Guest Sherrie R

My rules are that I always work the stitches in the same direction, unless they are half and quarter stitches of course. I always wash the finished item, never had any bleeding in over twenty years of cross stitching, and over forty working in general embroidery. I aways wash the material before working too, softens the material, so means the needles last longer. I always make sure the needle is not discoloured in any way. I don't leave the needles in the work unless it is for a few hours or over night, and then only at the edge. I always mark the center of the work with thread, even very small pieces. Larger pieces I grid. I've made too many mistakes in the past, especially on even weave, so gridding is part and parcel of the design to me. I am afraid I do not always wash my hands as I often stitch in places where there are no facitlities, don;t like baby wipes. I also commit the cardinal sin of using hand lotion. Aforementioned washing always gets rid of any resdiue.
—RosaleneW1

I never use knots. I try to always loop the ends around during the first stitch or I feed the loose end in the back of the stitching. I try to make the back look as pretty and as flat as the front.
—Guest Robin Hartman

I am working a sunflower in a pot and there were 2 symbols very similar [ + and the divid sign]. I rarely were my glasses for stiching because I am near sighted. Well --- you guessed right --- I was constantly picking the wrong color! I finely buried my pride and bought a magnifying glass that hangs around my neck so my hands are free. WHAT GREAT TIME SAVER !!! No more pulling stitches out and grabbing a different color. Hope this helps someone else. Marilyn
—ma1219

To the ladies who think they're too slow ... take whatever time you want to make it the way you want it. Remember, your stitching projects will most likely outlast you and be passed down through the family. If it takes you a lifetime to do one project, well that's perfectly okay. Enjoy it now and your family will enjoy it for generations.
—TeaKiKi

This the most common question I get asked. They always seem surprised when I say "I couldnt tell you". I know some stitches know every single stitch (and wow well done to them!) but I use stitching as a relaxation - so I dont time myself nor do I count how many stitches there are!
—vixis

Those are all excellent rules, and I practice them daily. The hardest one to keep is the first - why do people want to touch the stitching? Keep your dirty paws off!
—kazbels

Connie G. Barwick
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