Beginner? Follow Fiona’s guide to instant stitching success!
CHOOSE YOUR ESSENTIALS…Start with these must-have items
FABRICS
Most stitchers start off using aida – a block-weave fabric, which is divided into squares by a grid of holes, making it an ideal fabric for beginners. Each cross stitch is worked over one square.
Or you may prefer evenweave, which is also woven in a grid but in a finer count. Each cross stitch is usually worked over two threads of the fabric (shown below), making it the equivalent size to stitching on aida (eg. 28-count evenweave would produce the same size finish as 14-count aida). Fractional stitches are easier to work on evenweave, as there’s a central hole spare so you don’t need to split a block as you do for aida.
THREADS
You’ll need stranded cotton – this coloured thread comes in 8m skeins and is made up of six strands. There are three main brands – DMC, Anchor and Madeira – which are all smooth and easy to stitch with, and they’re colourfast to 95°C. Cheaper brands are available, but could be less durable and may not be colourfast. Less than one full skein of each thread will be required for a design, unless indicated at the bottom of the key for that project.
NEEDLES
Use a tapestry needle which has a blunt tip and large eye. It easily passes through the fibres of aida and evenweave. Different needle sizes are available, so choose the best for your fabric – see our guide on the right. It’s a good idea to have a sharp (crewel) needle, to split aida blocks when stitching fractionals, and a thin beading needle is useful too.
How to read our charts & keys
Clear symbols, colours & all the info you need!
CHARTS Made up of coloured squares containing symbols that represent squares to be stitched on the fabric. A tiny symbol denotes a fractional stitch in the corner of the square in which it’s to be worked. The centres of our charts are marked with arrows on the edge of each side. To find the corresponding centre of your fabric, fold it in half horizontally and then vertically – the point where the creases cross marks the centre. Start stitching here to ensure the design is positioned in the middle of the fabric.
SHOPPING LIST Contains type and size of fabric, recommended needle, and details of other products to frame or finish your project in the same way we have. Using another fabric with different HPI will a
