How To Sew Cross Stitch By Hand? Easy Cross Stitch Technique

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The other day, I was googling about different types of stitches. That’s when I learned about cross-stitching.  Every cross stitch pattern looks so stunning!

🤩 So, I decided to call my grandma and learn how to sew cross stitch by hand.

She happily said-

how to sew cross stitch by hand

Cross Stitch Hand Sewing

To sew cross stitch by hand, use even-weave fabric, a blunt needle, and colored threads to make X-shaped stitches according to a pattern.

If you want to do a beautiful cross stitch sewing project. Then, stay with me till the end to learn how to do cross stitch quickly.

How To Sew Cross Stitch By Hand For Beginners?

To sew cross stitches by hand, you need to follow these 4 steps. Such as:

  1. Start The Cross Stitch
  2. Make the first Cross Stitch
  3. Continue Cross Stitch
  4. End Of Cross Stitch
how to make cross stitch by hand

Start The Cross Stitch

-Grandma, how to sew a stitch by hand?

OK, to start a stitch hand sewing you need to thread your needle. If your thread’s already cut from a kit, grab a strand and carefully separate 2 from the 6. Thread your cross stitch needle with those 2 ends. Just like you would do with whip stitch

start cross stitch pattern

-How much thread do you need for cross stitch, Grandma?

-For cross stitching on 14-count and 16-count Aida, it’s common to use 2 strands of stranded cotton. You can mix the number of threads to change the texture, using one, two, or even three strands in the same project.

Thread Basics for Cross Stitch

-That’s the general rule of thumb, right? What materials do you use normally, Grandma?

I used to maintain those, but now I use 11 Aida fabric, a 22-inch needle, and 41-inch longer thread. It makes the cross-stitch project easy.

Grandma trick: If it’s not pre-cut, pull some from the bottom of the skein. Measure from your fingertips to your elbow and snip. Or here’s a trick: snip all the loops at the bottom for even strands.

Make the first Cross Stitch

– Well, how to start a hand sewn stitch?

Then, just traditionally thread your needle. To start, bring the needle out at point 1 and go  180 degrees to point 2. Then, again, go back to point 3, which is below 1. Next, insert the needle at point 4, above 2, to create a basic cross stitch. Isn’t the process quite similar to chain stitch?

cross stitch embroidery

-Remember to maintain 2-3 inch space between cross stitches.

How to Calculate the Size of Your Fabric for Cross-Stitch

Continue Cross Stitch

For the next hand stitches, insert the needle at point 5 and bring it out at the previous point 4. Then, insert it at point 6 to complete the second cross. Continue this process for more crosses.

continue cross stitch pattern

End Of Cross Stitch

Leave a little thread tail hanging out the back. Then, slide your needle under 1 or 2 stitches on the backside, making sure it doesn’t peek through to the front. Give the thread a gentle tug to snug it up against the cross stitch embroidery fabric.

ending cross stitch thread

Last step?

Snip off any extra inch of thread close to the fabric without cutting the single stitches themselves. This trick keeps your cross-stitch nice, complete cross stitch, with no messy loose ends.

Still confused? Then watch this video tutorial

How to Hand Sew a Catch Stitch or Cross Stitch (Basic Hand Sewing)

Prepare Fabric For Cross Stitch

If you wanna really do cross stitch, you need to prepare the fabric first. Find the middle of the fabric. Remember folding the edge while doing blanket stitch? You need to do the same here. Simply fold the fabric in half one way, then the other, and pop a pin at the intersection of the folds to mark the center. When you’re ready to start stitching, pop the fabric into an embroidery hoop.

-What size embroidery hoop do you use?

-it’s best to go for one that’s about 1-inch bigger than the design you’re planning to stitch. Holding a hoop larger than 8 inches can get awkward.

An essential guide to embroidery hoops

And the fabric should be taut in the hoop but not stretched so much that it distorts the squares of the Aida cloth. Once you’re set, tighten the screw by hand to secure everything in place. And remember to remove your cross stitch fabric from the hoop after each stitching session to avoid any permanent creases.

If you wanna be a pro on stitching then here is another guide about how to do tacking stitch step by step. Read it out.

How To Cross Stitch For Beginners Pdf?

It would be better if you added something to download this article in pdf.

Cross Stitch Embroidery For Beginners

I taught you the basic cross stitch technique. That’s just the beginning. You can do 1000 of 1000 embroidery with cross stitch. However, as a beginner, you can start with those 4 basic cross stitch embroidery:

  1. Heart Pattern
  2. Flower Pattern
  3. Geometric Designs
  4. Simple Landscape
cross stitch embroidery designs for beginners

So, if you’re looking to level up your cross-stitching skills, here are a few fun embroidery stitch patterns to try out. First up, there’s the classic heart shape, perfect for getting the hang of those stitches. Then, why not give a simple flower design a go? Big petals mean you can experiment with different colors and shading techniques.

If you’re into precision, try some geometric designs like squares, triangles, or diamonds.

My Cross Stitch Journey:

After learning cross-stitch goodies, I wanted to do the classic heart-shaped embroidery. However, the heart shape has so many curves, which is hard to crack as a beginner. So, I decided to write down the color pattern, which makes the embroidery cross-stitch.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

How To Do Cross Stitch Quickly?

To cross stitch quickly, use a larger needle and work with a single color at a time, completing all stitches of that color before moving on. Keep your inch of thread untangled and work in rows or sections for efficiency.

How To Cross Stitch With A Pattern?

To cross stitch with a pattern, place your cross stitch fabric in an embroidery hoop, follow the pattern’s grid to make X-shaped stitches with embroidery floss color, matching the colors on the pattern.

Final Thought

Now, you know how to sew cross stitch by hand, right?

So, why not you try it out right now? Try it out and let us know what your tried cross stitch and let us know what you have done.

Happy stitching!

Maisha Soumee

Maisha Soumee

Hi there! I’m Maisha Soumee, the proud torchbearer of our family’s sewing legacy and the driving force behind this website. With Grandma Manha’s teachings as my foundation, I’m honored to continue the tradition of craftsmanship and creativity. As a passionate seamstress, I’m dedicated to sharing the joy of sewing with you, our valued community.

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