Having problems with isolated stitches or frustrated with French Knots?  A beginner to cross stitch?  Here are a few tips to over come some of those dilemma's

All top stitches should face the same way either \ or /

 

Isolated cross stitch:- 
knot thread, push needle from FRONT to BACK a couple of stitches away from where you want to stitch to be.  Now, work the stitch.   Weave the end through the back of the stitch to tie off.  Cut off first knot, rethread needle, now weave that end through back of stitch to tie off.  Snip thread ends close to stitch.

 

Frustrated with French Knots? - use beads instead, particularly effective for eyes and flower centre's

 

Work in rows when stitching blocks of colour.  Work half cross stitch along one direction //////////// and at the end of the row, work back \\\\\\\\\ to complete the stitches ( result = XXXXXXXX)

 

Keep an even tension and don't pull too tight

 

When working a diagonal line of stitching, complete each whole stitch before moving on to the next.

 

If you are looking to see how a particular stitch is worked then I would highly recommend the following web site:-

Johanna's Embroidery Stitch Diagrams

This site deals with a host of different stitches not just those used in cross stitch so well worth a visit.