Cross stitch made easy

by Melissa Chaudhry
(Bakersfield, CA)

If you have never done cross stitch before the task may seem daunting. It is a very fun and easy craft once you get the hang of it though!

To start I would recommend buying the small kits you find at department stores or your local dollar store. They are cute and a great way to get started learning the basics.

These small little kits include everything you need to get started, including the directions.

In order to make counting easier and keep your final product relatively centered I always start at the upper left hand corner. (Guides always say to start in the middle, but I enjoy doing the border first as a starting point, it makes the counting much easier).

The next step is to try a kit that is a stamped cross stitch kit. These kits are extremely easy and require no counting!!

Once you have gotten the hang of these two simple and small projects it is time to move on to the dreaded counted cross stitch. I know it seems difficult but once you get your own method down it is easy and the results are very rewarding with a beautiful end product.

In order to keep track of where I am in a pattern I will again do the border first, after every 50 stitches I highlight the finished work on my pattern. This makes it very easy to start where you left off if you need to take a break. Once you have the border of any piece you have the framework for counting the rest of your project easily!

Don't give up!! It takes lots of practice and dedication :)