Something for all abilities
Waste Canvas
DO DON'T
- Align the waste canvas weave (wc) with the fabric weave
- Use a hoop
- Tack wc to fabric before stitching
- Stitch into the centre of the square
- Use tweezers to pull out the threads, ONE by ONE
- Pull out the threads vertically first.
- Rinse project thoroughly in cool water to remove all traces of wc starch from the fabric
- Don't use a blunt ended cross-stitch needle. A sharper point is required.
- Forget to dampen your work before removing the waste canvas
- Be tempted to pull out any threads until your design is completed
- Don't panic if the coloured threads run in the water. Keep rinsing until the 'bleeding' stops.
- Give up if you cannot remove all the waste canvas - you may need to snip the wc away close to the design to prevent the wc snapping when pulling out with the tweezers.
Posture and RSI
If your posture is all wrong you could be risking Repetitive Strain Injury. These tips might help!
Don't Slouch - sit upright. Support your back with a cushion
No Squinting - help avoid eye strain by using a good, strong light
Take Regular Breaks - massage aching arms/hands to loosen them.
Exercise Hand/wrists - squeeze a tennis ball! Just a few minutes a day strengthens muscles.
Use a hoop - reduces muscle fatigue in the hands.
Hold your work away from your body - to avoid straining your neck
Tips about Card Mounts
- Buy the best quality card mounts you can afford
- Always choose a card mount with a window to fit the stitched design.
- Invest in double-sided sticky tape and Spray mount adhesive
- See Make your Own Cards and Tags
Metallic Thread
- To prevent metallic thread from fraying on the reel - tie a knot in the thread at the cutting point, then cut the thread before the knot, thereby keeping the thread on the reel from fraying.
- To prevent the thread slipping/falling out, knot the metallic thread at the eye of the needle.
- Choose a needle with a slightly bigger eye
- Use a shorter length of thread than usual. This will reduce tangle/stretch and will be easier to manage.
- To create subtle highlights to your design try blending a strand of metallic thread with one of stranded cotton.
- If you mix your threads, try to position the metallic thread so it lies on the top and not hidden by the stranded cotton (try pulling the thread of stranded cotton through first).
- When ironing your completed design use a LOW heat and place a clean cloth between your stitching and the iron to prevent the metallic thread from 'melting'
Washing Your Stitching
Always wash your hands before you start stitching and regularly while you stitch. Natural oils from your hands can mark the fabric.
If stitching on coloured or patterned fabrics, wash them first to make sure they will not run BEFORE you stitch onto them.
- Always use a reputable brand of thread such as DMC, Anchor or Madeira and then your stitching should be washable at about 30 C.
- Use a gentle liquid fabric detergent and cool water.
- Wash the whole fabric, not just the dirty area.
- Do not rub or twist the stitching
- Rinse thoroughly with clean, tepid water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear
- Don't wring your stitching - roll in a dry towel to absorb the water.
- Place on a clean thick white towel onto an ironing board. Put your design right side down onto it and cover with a white pillowcase or tea towel.
- Press carefully, with the iron on the "cotton" setting until the stitching is dry.
If you have been extremely careful and kept your work clean whist stitching, then omit the washing instructions and simply press as described above.
Bands/Borders
When stitching with bands it's the forward planning which is the key to success!
Bands are extremely versatile. They can be used to trim items already around your home (ie cushions, pillow cases, sheets, plant pots, towels, peg bags, curtains, lampshades) or you can make the bands into bookmarks, napkin rings, tray holders, cake bands, gift box trims, shelf edgings, to name a few. Use your imagination!
Will your band be used horizontally (ie on a sheet) or vertically (ie on a pillowcase)?
Will you choose one motif to repeat along the band? Or perhaps a group of motifs repeated along the band?
Whatever your chosen design and project these simple suggestions will assist you to produce a neat result.
Work out how many motifs will fit along the band.
Decide on the size of the spaces between each motif. Count these spaces very carefully to ensure they are spaced evenly. This holds true whether you have decided upon a narrow or wide space between motif repeats.
TIP: Before you begin stitching, try placing a basting stitch every 10 or 20 squares along the band - this will help you to keep track of your counting!
Plastic Canvas
Plastic canvas is ideal for those who are beginners to cross stitch/people who have difficulty seeing the holes in fabric.
Use more strands of cotton than you would on fabric for thicker coverage. (If using a pattern designed for fabric recommends 2 strands then use 3) alternatively double knit wool can be used - this will give a very chunky look.
Use a size 18 blunt ended tapestry needle.
Plastic canvas only supports whole stitches and back stitch.
If your chosen design has only a few fractional stitches in it, turn them into whole stitches.
Cut out the completed design one row away from the edge, carefully snipping off any rough bits of plastic for a smooth finish.
For a neater finish overcast all round the raw edges using either black thread or a thread to match the colour of the plastic canvas.
Overcasting should be done with a thicker yarn again to ensure good coverage.
When using plastic canvas to make hanging decorations/mobiles use symmetrical shapes and stick two together back to back using a clear glue with a piece of ribbon or string glued into the middle for hanging.
For more information on working with Plastic Canvas, check out Plastic Canvas On The Web a site dedicated to this subject and well worth a visit.
Using the solid INNER ring of the hoop draw around the OUTside edge on a piece of felt. Put the felt to one side.
Place the INNER hoop centrally over your design on the wrong side.
Draw a faint line in pencil around the OUTSIDE edge of the ring. Cut round 1in larger than the pencil marking.
Placing the ring back on the pencil line, bring the needle up through the fabric 1/4in away from the edge. Take the needle UNDER the fabric on the opposite side - working OVER and UNDER all the time, lace around the hoop, pulling threads tightly so the fabric gathers around the hoop.
Alternatively .......................... stitch a line of gathering stitches around the edge of the fabric then pull the thread, drawing up the gathers, then fasten off securely.
Next, turn your work over to the right side and ease the OUTER ring of the flexi-hoop over the inner ring.
Using the circle of felt, place it over the back of the hoop and attach it to the fabric using tiny stitches.
Make a tassel - Cut two pieces of card slightly deeper than the finished length of the tassel. Place the two pieces of card together (back to back) and wind threads around the card as many times as required, depending in the thickness of the tassel you require. Then, slide a length of thread between the two pieces of card and tie a knot catching the wound thread at the top. Now cut the wound thread at the bottom end of the card (sliding scissors between the two pieces of card). Wrap another length of thread around the tassel to form the neck and tie off.
Tassels can be used to decorate bookmarks, cushions, bell pulls etc.
For instructions on making a tassel formed with a bead - plus a picture of the end result check out Home Decor Crafts
Assorted tips from other Stitchers 
From Michael Wasson, USA
One tip that I like to tell beginners is to make an enlarged copy of their pattern. This is easier for the beginner to count and some use a high lighter pen to mark off the areas they have done.
From Pat Porter, Felixstowe, England
I've got one tip I only found out after five years of Cross stitching - instead of using two normal sized strands, use ONE DOUBLE LENGTH, thread ENDS through your needle. bring the needle up from the back of the work, back down through, and pass the needle through the loop made by doubling the two ends together - this makes casting on easier and the back has one less end to tidy up!
From Lynda Reed, USA
A tip: When stitching a difficult pattern, maybe one just a little beyond your ability, mark the pattern off in 10x10 stitch grids with a see through marker and work each grid then move onto the next works great!!
Linda Fischbach, USA
If my chart is black and white, I enlarge it.
I use a metal copy holder. (The kind a typist would use--can be bought in most office supply stores.) It clamps onto the table next to my chair and can hold many sheets of paper or charts. I can pull it closer when I need it, and push it away when not in use. Also, because it is metal, a magnetic strip can be attached to it to hold needles and needle threaders.
Stacey Prica, UK
As a beginner I found your tips very useful. One I find very helpful
is to photocopy and enlarge the original pattern. As I do my work I then
colour it in with different coloured fine markers.
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