Cross Stitch Hints and Tips

As you learn more and get more experienced with cross stitch you will start to want to learn some hints and tips from those more experienced. Here you will find some tried and true hints and tips that will help you make your cross stitch projects better, save you time and make your cross stitch experience better. The following list gives some great cross stitch hints and tips you can begin using today.

1. Work your stitches in the same direction. This means if you cross from upper right to lower left first do that with every stitch. It produces a cleaner looking finished project.
2. The easiest way to find the center of the fabric is to simply fold the fabric in half from top to bottom and then from right to left, creasing it a little. When you unfold you should have the center point where the two fold lines intersect.
3. To prevent your fabric edges from unraveling, tape them with masking tape. You can then cut off the tape when you are finished.
4. When working with beads lay them on a piece of velvet. The pile of the velvet keeps the beads from rolling.
5. Make a thread sorter for keeping your thread neat and tidy with a card and a hole punch.
6. To find the count of a piece of fabric measure along the fabric one inch and place two pins to measure one inch apart. Count how many stitches are between them and this should give you your fabric count.
7. 7. When working a block of color make it faster by working half the stitches across the length of the block and then coming back to finish them all off.
8. When not working on your cross stitch, store it in a large zipper freezer bag.
9. Use a sticky note to mark your place on a pattern. You can use the same sticky note over and over.
10. When you are not working on your cross stitch take the hoop off to prevent creases and wear by the hoop.
11. To make working with dark fabrics easier, use something light colored as your background so the holes show up. You can either wear light colored clothing or use a light colored blanket or towel.
12. Do not drag your thread across the back of the fabric. Instead cut and start again. Dragging your thread can show through and make the end product look less neat.