Cross stitch mk for beginners. Cross stitch for beginners. Master Class. Embroidery patterns for beginners

Many people think that cross-stitching is an ordinary hobby that does not require special skills. This opinion can be refuted, since embroidery is an art. Like all arts, it requires diligence, perseverance, concentration. Beginning needlewomen can familiarize themselves with embroidery techniques on the Internet. Today, on the Russian expanse of the Internet, you can find tips on where to start embroidering, a description of the process of doing the work and its correct completion. Cross stitch for beginners step by step will help you understand all the nuances of embroidery.

Today, manufacturers beginner embroiderers offer a variety of kits that already contain everything necessary materials for needlework. The kit includes canvas, embroidery scheme, specially selected threads. This allows you to immediately get down to business and not waste time on preparatory work.

Often experienced needlewomen select all the materials themselves. To do this, you need to have information about the types of fabric, threads and needles, as well as correctly draw up diagrams.

Different embroideries offer the use of different types of materials. Essentially, the embroidery kits are the same. At the same time, they include different types fabrics, threads and patterns.

Embroidery materials:

  • Canvas;
  • hoop;
  • Muline;
  • Scissors.

Embroidery may also require additional accessories. Specialty stores sell felt-tip pens, boards, frame clips, etc. All these devices make the work of needlewomen easier.

How to learn to cross stitch for beginners step by step: preparatory stage

An embroidery project before its implementation requires additional preparation. It is very important to follow all the rules of preparation, as their quality will affect the subsequent workflow. You need to take care of the quality of the fabric and threads, choose the right needles and even scissors.

It should be borne in mind that it is better to wash the fabric for embroidery before starting work, since after washing the base may “sit down”.

It is also necessary to take into account that the edges of the fabric in the process of work can crumble and fray. They should be pre-treated with threads or glue. The best type of fabric for embroidery is canvas.

How to prepare step by step:

  • Scheme;
  • Textile;
  • Threads;
  • Preparation of additional materials.

All materials must be High Quality. The final result will depend on this. It is best to embroider using a hoop. They will help to qualitatively stretch the fabric, which will allow you to easily and accurately make stitches.

Step by Step: How to Cross Stitch for Beginners

Beginning needlewomen should take into account that embroidery can be of different types. Sometimes the scheme can be applied directly to the fabric, then you can embroider immediately according to the color pattern. More difficult is the process of transferring a drawing from a diagram.

If the drawing is applied to the diagram, you will need to understand its decoding. In them, each color has its own symbol, which allows you to choose the right thread color.

Embroidery is done on canvas, which can be conditionally divided into squares. The cross from the diagram is transferred to the square. You need to start embroidery with one color, sequentially embroidering a cross after a cross.

Step by step cross stitch:

  • Decide on the beginning of embroidery.
  • Choose the appropriate thread color.
  • Fasten the thread in the needle and on the canvas.
  • Choose the right thread direction and follow it.

Usually each set contains instructions for embroidery. In it you can read in detail about where to start, what is the sequence of work and its completion. Before starting work, you should familiarize yourself with the types of seams.

Types of seams: what you need to know

Cross stitch can be done in different ways. As a result, the work will look similar, only the method of applying stitches will differ. The instructions will tell you about the order of the threads.

There is a single rule for each of the methods: the top stitches should face the same direction.

When performing stitches, it is important to pay attention to the fact that if they are located close to each other, then the thread may not be cut. The thread can be stretched on the wrong side and covered with the following stitches. You should try to make sure that the wrong side consists of strictly horizontal or vertical rows.

Learning to distinguish between types of seams:

  • Bilateral cross;
  • Half cross;
  • One fourth of the cross;
  • One eighth of a cross;
  • Three-quarters.

Very often, beginner needlewomen get nervous when they don’t get a stitch or get it wrong. In such cases, do not immediately rip the threads. Very often there is error correction possible without removing the superimposed threads.

How to cross stitch for beginners

Many experienced needlewomen use one method for embroidery, the one that they like. That is why embroiderers often argue about which technology is the best. Beginning needlewomen can be advised to try several techniques at once in order to understand which one is most convenient for them.

Any technique obeys the rule of overlaying stitches: the top stitches should “look” in one direction.

To better understand the issue, experienced needlewomen advise watching a number of video tutorials. The technique of overlaying stitches will vary depending on the pattern and the method of its implementation. However, every needlewoman must master two basic techniques.

Stitching methods:

  • English. The classic way, which involves applying a half-cross, then applying a second half-cross to the first.
  • Danish. Allows you to work with large drawings. It involves the application of a row of half-crosses, followed by the overlay of the top row, which returns the embroiderer to the beginning of the embroidery.

It is better to learn new techniques by doing small drawings. If the pattern is in color, it is better to start embroidery with darker shades, gradually moving to light ones. Depending on the shape of the figure, different types of stitches are used.

Cross stitch rules for beginners

To make the work easy, but at the same time useful, beginner needlewomen are advised to use canvas with large cells. They will allow you to fill your hand and get the practice of applying stitches. various kinds. The main thing is that the stitches are even and neat.

In order for the embroidery to turn out beautiful, embroidery must be done sequentially. It does not matter at all what embroidery technique is used.

For large canvases, two application techniques are very often used: English and Danish. This makes it possible to apply horizontal and vertical rows in different areas. Tip for beginners - the first work should not contain more than 4 colors.

Before starting work, you need to make sure that all the necessary materials and tools are at hand. You can prepare the necessary palette of threads in advance in order to select if necessary suitable color. After everything is ready, you can start preparing the canvas.

For high-quality canvas tension, it is best to use a hoop. It is convenient to use a medium-sized hoop when working with fragments.

After the canvas is tightly stretched, you can proceed to determine the center of the pattern. This will help to correctly determine the proportions and outline the correct diagonals. Many needlewomen advise filling out the canvas, starting from the center and moving towards the edge.

Embroidery rules:

  • You should always start work from the colored area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe largest size.
  • It is better to start embroidery with dark shades.
  • Large embroidery is better to fill in fragments.
  • As you embroider, you should cross out the finished sections on the diagram.
  • Make sure the stitches are sewn in the same direction.

There is no need to be nervous while working. Even if something does not work out, the main thing to remember is that skill comes with experience. A wrong stitch can always be redone. You can use kits for children. For clarity, you can start learning online, watch video tutorials, find a master class on how to sew and embroider a picture that you like. It is important to know where to download the scheme from, since not all of them are of high quality.

Cross stitch for beginners step by step: how to start

Different needlewomen start work in different ways. It all depends on personal preference and convenience. The most common ways to start are to embroider from the center and from the edge.

It is important to remember about the correct fastening of the thread. When starting to embroider, the thread is in no case fixed in a knot.

You should also monitor the correct number of threads in the needle. There must always be an even number of them. To make the inside look neat, the threads are fixed under the embroidered crosses.

Tips for starting embroidery:

  • Fasten the thread correctly.
  • Decide on the type of stitches.
  • Thread the needle.

The work will be done faster if the needlewoman works with both hands at once. The right hand should be on top, the left - below. Experienced needlewomen use double-sided needles, which speeds up the workflow.

Cross stitch kits and tutorials for beginners

Today, many women are returning to such a hobby as embroidery. It allows not only to relax, unwind, regain harmony, but also to create real masterpieces. Modern manufacturers offer the attention of needlewomen a wide variety of sets that will help facilitate the work.

It is better for beginner craftswomen to start with small patterns for embroidery. This will allow you to fill your hand and get the hang of stitching.

Embroidery kits are divided into types. Each of them is designed taking into account the skill of the embroiderer and her capabilities. The kits are very convenient because they already contain all the necessary materials for work.

Image types:

  • Animals;
  • landscapes;
  • Still lifes;
  • portraits;
  • Story pictures.

Ready-made kits for beginners can be bought in specialized stores or online. Sets for beginner craftswomen contain a diagram with simple plots. The sizes of such paintings are small, which allows you to embroider easily and quickly.

The basics of embroidery are simple, the main thing is patience and inspiration. The training period is very important. a good gift for beginners will be a beautiful children's book containing tips and secrets of beautiful embroidery.

Cross stitch lessons for beginners step by step (video)

Cross stitching can be called an art. This is painstaking and diligent work, the end result of which is a real work of art. But in order to perform a truly beautiful work, you need to learn embroidery techniques. This will take time and perseverance. For beginner needlewomen, it is best to start with embroidery kits, which already contain all the necessary materials, as well as instructions. Embroidery is not slave labor, it is a pleasure if you act from pure heart and with inspiration.

A variety of needlework techniques have become a favorite hobby of people in our time. different ages. Our tips will tell you how to learn to cross-stitch, and for beginners, we have prepared instructions that show the embroidery technique step by step. Cross-stitch is now at the peak of popularity. This type of creativity has been known since ancient times. Many peoples have long used this type of needlework to decorate clothes and household items. Modern designers use products with embroidery for their projects. Experienced craftswomen can create real works of art using this technique. Pictures embroidered with a cross can decorate any interior.


How to get started

You should start by choosing a motive or image that you like best. It is better to start with simple pictures. There are many kits for beginner needlewomen on sale. The kit includes everything you need: canvas, needle, pattern, thread. You can make this kit yourself.

Let's talk about the main components in more detail:

  • Diagram of the drawing can be shown on paper. She happens colored, or colors can be designated symbols. For the first work, it is better to choose a pattern depicted directly on the fabric. In this case, embroidery is done directly on the colored squares. With the option with paper scheme it will be necessary to calculate the cells and correctly determine the start of work. In this case, you need to mark the finished sections on paper scheme and carefully count down as you continue to work.
  • Cross stitch is done on special fabric. The work uses a counting cotton fabric with even weave. It's called canvas. In such a canvas, holes for the needle are clearly visible.
    Canvas comes in a variety of colors. For a solid pattern, it is better to use poor fabric. For partial embroidery, you can work on a colored canvas. The canvas can hoop. You can embroider without pinning. Canvas is produced with the use of special impregnation. Finished canvas impregnated with a special composition. As a result, it keeps its shape well, does not deform, and becomes more wear-resistant.
  • Threads- the most important element of embroidery. The quality of all work depends on their quality. Threads should not shed, fade, should be evenly woven. Threads for embroidery are called floss. 6 individual threads are woven into a skein. On sale there are floss of various colors and shades. Color number affixed to the package of threads.
    If you purchased a set for embroidery, then the threads are already matched by color. It remains only to prepare them for work. For work, you need to take a segment of three threads 50-60 cm long. For convenience, you can cut the threads and sort them by color. Do not use thread of dubious quality. Irregularities and knots will make the product untidy. If the thread sheds, the work will be ruined.
  • Embroidery is done with a needle. Embroidery needle has a rounded tip. The eye of the needle should accommodate several floss threads.


After preparing everything you need, you can get to work.

Canvas needs to be overcast so that the edges do not fray. In some sets, the edge of the canvas is already processed.


Now we determine from which part of the pattern to start embroidering. For beginner needlewomen better choose canvas with a picture, then any site can be the start of work. If the canvas is without a picture, you can use several options:

  • starting with top edge;
  • determine the middle of the picture and do center calculation on canvas.

It is advisable to mark the spent cells on the diagram.


First of all, you need fasten the thread on canvas.


You should not use knots for this. To secure the thread, you need to insert a needle from the inside. Hold the end of the thread with your fingers. Place the first row of stitches from the inside over the tip, as if hiding it under the stitches. At the end of the work, the rest of the thread attaches under existing stitches. Cut off the excess with scissors.

If used for work single thread you can fix it loop. To do this, fold the thread in half, thread both ends into the needle. On the other hand, a loop is formed. At the first stitch, the needle pass through the loop and tighten a little.

Cross stitch is especially popular right now. If earlier only pillowcases, bed linen, napkins were embroidered, now even garden benches are embroidered with a cross! How to learn to cross stitch, what does cross stitch technique mean? Nothing complicated or supernatural. The main thing is desire and perseverance.

The technique of cross-stitching and work begins with the simplest, small and cats. It’s good if your daughter learned such needlework from you. Simple schemes of cats will suit you just right. Then, when you choose your style of embroidery, you can take on big schemes for embroidery from scratch. Simple little kitten cross patterns - these will be lessons for beginners.

There are always cross-stitch kits on sale in needlework stores. The kits include Aida canvas (basis of embroidery), a needle with a blunt end (usually tapestry), threads (mulina), a hoop and a pattern, which is subsequently embroidered. The scheme can be color, black and white or consisting of symbols. Sets are, of course, convenient, but the prices for them bite very much. It can be advised for such work as cross-stitch for beginners, to assemble such a mini-set by yourself. What will be included:

  1. Canvas Aida can be bought separately, very good canvas Aida number 14,16 and 18 by Zweigart, or you can replace it with a light linen or cotton fabric with a uniform weave.
  2. We also need a hoop, for starters, small, preferably wooden, with a screw. Such a hoop is comfortable for the hands, the fabric is held with good tension, the canvas does not slip anywhere.
  3. The needle should be large eyed and blunt. Usually choose needles number 22 or 24.
  4. For starters, take a cotton floss thread, you can also embroider with woolen threads. Wool is desirable to select the same thickness.
  5. Schemes for beginner cats.

Cross stitch for beginners step by step is, first of all, the ability to focus on the beauty of embroidery. Learn to embroider with a counted cross. Cross stitch technique counted cross - the most ancient technique, in this way embroidered back in ancient Rus'. Currently, there are many ways to cross stitch. The most popular are the traditional and the Danish way.
The traditional way- each cross is embroidered completely, and then only the transition to the next one.

A simple, traditional cross.

Danish way - at the beginning we embroider a row of stitches ½ cross from left to right, and in the 2nd stage we close this row.

Danish way.

Cross and half cross (½ cross).

To make cross stitch for beginners look good, you need all the stitches on the right side of the fabric to be done in the same direction.

There are several cross stitch techniques. This is a printed, uncountable and countable cross.

  • The most simple technique- printed cross. This is an option when the scheme is printed on fabric, and you only need to quickly fill in the cells with a cross.
  • Uncountable cross - the pattern is applied to the fabric without dividing into stitches. Only the color of the threads is indicated, with which the work is done in stages.
  • And, finally, the most difficult version of embroidery is a counted cross. Embroidery rules: for a counted cross, a clean fabric or canvas without a pattern and a diagram is taken. While embroidering, stitches of the same color are counted. I would like to advise embroiderers to take small ones to work with a counted cross (for example, 10/12 cm), since when working in this technique there is a high probability of an error when you need to redo the work. The technique of the cross is simple and understandable.

How to prepare floss threads

Embroidery training begins with the preparation of threads. Most often, cotton floss is used, in 2 threads. Mouline thread is produced in skeins of various lengths, each hank consists of 6 thin threads. Our task is to separate the threads so that it is convenient to work with them. First, you need to carefully unwind the skein and cut it into pieces of 55-65 cm. With this size, the threads will not tangle, and it will be convenient to sew. And so, 1 thread at a time - we disassemble the entire skein. To facilitate the work, individual segments of threads can be wound on pieces of paper or pieces of cardboard.

How to work with canvas (fabric)

All fabrics, including canvas, linen, cotton, and so on, have longitudinal and transverse threads, as well as an edge. If you do not want the pattern to be skewed, you need to cut the embroidery along the share, it does not matter if you are embroidering a vertical or horizontal pattern. This is done so that after washing your embroidery is not deformed and in order to facilitate the design of the work. If you later align the embroidery and stretch it on the substrate, this process will be quick and clear. If the fabric is without an edge, then you can find the equity by pulling the fabric horizontally and vertically. The share thread does not stretch!

How to transfer the scheme to the fabric

Before you draw a diagram of a kitten or a red cat on a fabric, you need to find the middle of the work. Fold the fabric vertically and then horizontally. The point of intersection is the middle of the drawing. There are many ways to transfer patterns to canvas or fabric. Moreover, the fabric does not have to be white.

  1. Someone simply takes a soft slate pencil (for example, HB-2) and draws 10/10 squares on the fabric. And then puts dots in the squares in the color that is indicated on the diagram. This is the most popular option.
  2. There are water-based markers on sale, which at the end of the work are simply washed off with a disposable wet wipe. Draw on a dark fabric with a simple white pencil.
  3. Stationery stores sell watercolor pencils, which are convenient to draw on fabric and wash off with water without a trace.
  4. Another option for transferring a picture is transferring through carbon paper. Iron the fabric well and lay face down on the table. Under the fabric you need to put copy paper with a gloss to the fabric. On top of the canvas we put the diagram printed on the printer and fasten it with pins to the canvas. It remains only to trace the outlines of the circuit with a sharp pencil or an empty pen. This option has disadvantages - the picture is “inverted”. But on the plus side, by lifting the canvas, it is possible to check whether an element of the circuit is missing.

Many of those who like cross-stitch patterns are interested in doing monochrome Cats embroidery. Monochrome is a drawing or pattern embroidered with 1-2 colors. Most often it is black and its shades. The beauty of monochrome is in its simplicity. This can be embroidery of a towel for a child with the image of cats, pillows for children “Red cat”, “British cat”, and so on.

We bring to your attention schemes on the theme of cats and kittens, they are of varying degrees of complexity.

Hello! Let's get to know each other first. My name is Marina. I made my first cross forty years ago. I have been embroidering pictures for about ten years. It all started with a gift (an embroidery kit) that my friends from Europe brought me. It was the longest job of my life. I embroidered it for myself, but it turned out that they bought it from me (I could not resist the price), so I got orders. At first, I had to buy sets in Europe, but now it has become easier - I have already sent five works from Peony, and my customers are the quality criterion for me.

Since I embroider to order, time is of the essence for me, so I had to abandon the traditional methods of securing threads, which take a lot of time and, as a result, increase sewing time. This led to an increase in the consumption of threads, and a very significant one, but here you have to choose (everyone has their own priorities), while embroidering for yourself you don’t have to rush.

First, I will answer the frequently asked questions:
"Is it difficult to embroider these schemes?". My answer (it is clear that it is subjective): long - yes, difficult - no. It is very strange to me how difficult it can be to do something with the simplest stitches in the world. And those who embroider always have a lot of patience. Perhaps, for someone like me, this work may cause a condition that I call “psychological fatigue”. Three days off, or promote other work and this state goes away.

“Which scheme to choose? Bigger or smaller? In my experience, there is no difference in retraction. The difference is only in time.

And the last digression. During sewing, for example, there is such a situation (I send off work by color): the thread is over, the last cross remains, for which you need to take new thread, sometimes I take it, and sometimes I flash it with a shade that is nearby. Such liberties will not be noticeable when sewing the background, in landscapes and still lifes, but don’t get too carried away. Where can't you do something like this? Then, when you embroider faces, you can get very unpleasant surprises here.

The most important rule: you need to embroider with maximum comfort.

I always embroider from top to bottom and from left to right. One Row is ten cells of the scheme in height.

What we are preparing - a frame, a machine for the frame, scissors for cutting threads, two tablets (about them a little later), many, many needles, a simple pencil (an alternative is a blue felt-tip pen for fabric that is washed off with cold water), an ordinary bright felt-tip pen. About good lighting, I think it’s not necessary to write and it’s clear.

A little about needles. Expensive English needles did not stand the test, everything was constantly quickly rubbed in the eye area. Ultimately, I stopped buying them and settled on cheap gamma needles for embroidery. They were very pleasantly surprised, there were several defective pieces, and the rest have already been in operation for three years and even the gilding has not been erased, it has only faded. Needle size 24 or 26. I use both mixed.

As a side note, the photos do not show the real picture. To see all the beauty of embroidery, you need to look at it "live".

Begin.

1. I make a copy of the scheme. You never know, it's a long job. I never needed it. But just in case.

2. I connect the circuit. I glue at first only the first topmost sheets. It turns out a long strip. The rest of the sheets will be used only when the first page is finished. When one row remains to be sewn from the first strip (I remind you that a row for me is ten cells in height), I glue the following sheets and get a second strip, which I connect with the first, and I cut off everything that is sewn on the first strip and throw it away, etc. d.

Then I take an ordinary felt-tip pen and draw a diagram (ladder in the photo). Each row will be sewn with such teeth, otherwise the border between the rows will be noticeable.

3. I fix the canvas or uniform on the frame. I always process the uniform with a zigzag, my canvas does not fray. Before fixing the canvas or uniform on the frame, above (always) and below (not always), I build it up with regular fabric. I do this for the sole purpose: so that the beginning and end of the embroidery are in the “comfortable embroidery zone” - the hands should not reach anywhere, but lie freely on the frame.

I fix the canvas or uniform only in such a way as in the photo. The front side of the work twists inward (somehow it happened historically for me), but the bottom is fixed in this way (inward) so that the hands do not rub the front side of the fabric (this was already done on purpose), let the wrong side rub

4. I line the fabric. You can use a special blue felt-tip pen for fabric, which is washed off with cold water. I stopped using it after I forgot to wash it off (unpleasant memories remained), and immediately immersed it in warm water (the work was spoiled - albeit small and very simple, but spoiled), since then I have been using only simple, but very soft pencil (I still erase the work after finishing). I line only the first four rows, as soon as the first row is sewn, I finish drawing another one, etc. Look at the photo above.

5. Preparation of tablets. The tablets are made from improvised materials, into which a needle is easily stuck. They will store needles with threads that are not currently involved in the work. I turn to the organizer only when I need a new thread.

In Excel, I type symbols and thread numbers, as on an organizer. I place everything on an A4 sheet. I print out several sheets and attach one sheet with ordinary tape to the tablet.

I always use two tablets. Why two identical tablets? Over time, the first tablet will be all torn with needles and battered. I quickly take and transfer needles from the old tablet to the new one. I remove the torn sheet from the old one and attach a new one. And I again have one working tablet with needles, the other is clean.

And yet, an empty tablet helps to quickly find the desired symbol (sometimes suddenly symbols are lost on the working tablet - the threads are closed). This is what the tablets look like in the process of work. (Note from Golden Peony - if you are interested in the option with a tablet or you come up with something else for yourself, and you need to print symbols, then read at the bottom of the page how to place a font with symbols on your computer. Not everyone has this font in system font folder.)

I fold the long strip of the scheme along the width of the work. I fasten it to the canvas or uniform with ordinary clerical clips.

Now everything is ready, you can start embroidering. I take a needle and thread that matches the symbol that I will sew and start.

I put the thread into work with front side lower by 15 cells from the row, leaving a tail of approximately 0.5 cm (I don’t fix the thread in any way, it will fix itself in the process of work). In the same way I take the thread out of work. Now you probably understand why I have a very large consumption of threads, but time is important for me.

I embroider the symbol until it is in the field of view of the row, which is sewn off, as soon as this symbol is over, I take the thread out of work and insert the needle into the tablet. Then I embroider the next character, and so on. Work occurs only within a row.


And I cut it, leaving a tail of at least 0.5 cm, so that it would be more convenient to cut them later.

When the first row is sewn, the second row begins to be sewn off. After sewing the second row, the tails of the threads of the first row are cut off with scissors. After sewing the third row, the tails of the threads of the second row are cut off, etc. Thus, I reach the last row, it is the longest in time, here I have to fasten the thread. I use all the methods of fastening the thread that I know, except for the method of fastening the thread on the wrong side (by the way, very good way and fast enough to pull the thread from the wrong side under the stitches, but I do not turn the frame over while working, so I do not use it).

I work with both hands at once, one above the frame, the second under the frame, where which one does not matter to me - this also speeds up the work.

6. When the work is sewn off, I remove it from the frame, rip off the fabric and erase the embroidery. I just soak it for 20 minutes, pat it a little (I don’t crumple and don’t twist it). Now you need to rinse until the water runs clear (I also do not twist anything). After the main water drains from the sewn work, I wrap it in a towel to remove any remaining water. And let it dry a little.

7. As soon as the embroidery has dried up (it should be slightly damp), I begin to iron it. I put the work face down on a super soft and fluffy terry towel and start ironing, very, very carefully. Not a single stitch should be crumpled. I can add that this process for me the most unpleasant and seems endless.

8. Everything. The framing workshop remained. I put it in the frame under the glass myself. If you trust the framing workshop, then they can also insert it into the frame.

I hope everything I wrote was helpful and understandable. Do not judge me harshly, I am writing something like this for the first time, especially for public reading. If something is not clear, ask questions, I will try to answer them.

Thank you very much for your attention.

P.S. I showed the sewing on the example of a tapestry (half-cross). If you embroider with a full cross, the principle is the same. Difference: when embroidering with a tapestry stitch, the movement in a row goes up, then down, up again and down again, etc. When embroidering with a cross: I always start from the lowest character in the row and go up, but I do not sew off the whole cross, but a half-cross, then I go back down, overlapping the first half-cross with the second - the first column is sewn off. In the second column, in the same way, I start from the lowest character, sew with a half-cross up and go back down, overlapping the first half-crosses. I hope it's clear.

How to place a font with symbols on a computer.

1. Download two files with fonts to your computer.

2. Go to the local drive C. Then to the Windows folder. Find the Fonts folder. And paste the downloaded files into it. If the Windows folder is hidden, remove this restriction on your computer.

3. Reboot your computer.

Someone perceives cross-stitch as an art, someone as a hobby, and for someone it is a way to relieve stress. Before starting work, you should prepare the necessary equipment. It includes: a hoop, fabric, a needle, threads, a diagram and a frame for decorating the work. You may also need a felt-tip pen to mark the fabric. First of all, we will consider not how to cross-stitch correctly, but how to choose inventory. After all, this work should bring pleasure. And only work with high-quality tools will bring pleasure from the embroidery process.

hoop

The first thing you need to know: the hoop squeezes the fabric. Therefore, you should try to rearrange them as little as possible. Each needlewoman should have not one, but several options. A small diameter hoop is suitable for embroidering small pictures. And a large one - for working on an embroidered shirt or a towel. You can see wooden and plastic hoops. Which one to use is a matter of personal affection.

Textile

You need to cross-stitch on a special fabric called canvas. When choosing a fabric, you need to consider the nature of the work that you will be doing. If this is a towel, then the fabric should be appropriate. For paintings, the canvas is taken of a completely different quality. The fabric used for embroidering towels has an implicit grid. Due to this, from a distance it is difficult to distinguish it from ordinary flax. It is quite difficult to work with her. Therefore, for the first work it is better to take a picture. The canvas designed for embroidering pictures has a clear grid. This makes the job much easier. Currently, manufacturers offer canvas on which the markup is made. This helps, firstly, to position the embroidery in the middle. And secondly, you can quickly find the place where you completed the work for the last time. If there is no such markup, then it is advisable to make it yourself. A special marker or a simple pencil will cope with this task. On the shelves of shops you can see the canvas of different sizes. They indicate the density of weaving. The finer the mesh formed by the fibers, the more difficult it is to embroider. On the other hand, the works made on such a canvas look like they are painted.

Needle

It is necessary to cross-stitch with a special needle, which is somewhat different from its counterpart used for sewing. Its purpose is not to pierce the tissue, but to push the fibers apart. Therefore, the edge of the embroidery needle is not sharp, but rounded. Another feature of such needles is a long eye. This is no coincidence. Often it is necessary to embroider with a thread in several additions. And thread such a thread into little ear very difficult. The last difference between embroidery needles and those used in sewing is their shorter length. Like canvas, needles differ in size.

Threads

The type of finished work depends on the quality of the threads. If the thread is of high quality, then it lies softly, has a shine and does not shed during washing. One of the best on the market are DMC. These are American made threads. They have a silky texture and shine. Thanks to this, the finished work looks elegant and rich.

Scheme

The scheme should be, first of all, convenient. Two extremes must be avoided: too large or unreasonably small circuit. In the first case, you will need a lot of free space. After all, the circuit must be constantly decomposed during operation. In the second case, you will need to constantly strain your eyesight to see conventions. There are black and white and color schemes. For beginners, it is better to use color schemes.

Frame

The frame is the final touch in the design of the finished work. It should either be contrasting or match the color scheme of the embroidery. Embroidered pictures with a passport look very nice. It is advisable to take the picture under glass. It is better to opt for an anti-reflective option.

Beginning of work

How to cross stitch correctly? Each needlewoman has her own answer to this question. However, there are unwritten rules for cross stitching. Let's talk about them.

After the inventory is selected, you can get to work. Remember, embroidery does not like to be rushed. We advise inexperienced girls to buy a set. It includes a canvas of the right size, a pattern and threads. The diagram has some tips that will answer the question of how to cross stitch. You need to familiarize yourself with them. It will also indicate how many threads are used for embroidery. Their number can vary from 1 to 4. It depends on the size of the canvas.

After the scheme has been studied, you need to carefully lay out the threads. In some sets, the threads are arranged in special organizers. Their appearance may differ slightly. If there is no such organizer in the set you purchased, then you can make it yourself. To do this, take a piece of cardboard and make round holes in it. Thread different colors of thread through each hole. The organizer is ready.

Now we take the canvas and process the fabric with a stitch by hand or on a sewing machine. Can be used for processing colorless varnish for nails, glue or masking tape. It all depends on your imagination! If this is not done, then during operation the fabric will sag.

An algorithm that will tell you how to cross stitch correctly:

  • determine the middle of the canvas;
  • if there is no markup on the canvas, then we make it with a red thread, pencil or marker;
  • we dress the work in the hoop;
  • making the first stitch.

The fabric in the hoop should be well, and, most importantly, evenly stretched. If the canvas is stretched loosely, then the crosses can turn out to be of different sizes, which will spoil appearance finished work.

Reading the diagram

The ability to work with the scheme is the key to success. As mentioned earlier, there are 2 types of schemes: black and white and color. Let's consider each of them separately.

1. Colored

How to learn to cross-stitch according to a color scheme? It is a picture broken into small squares. Each square corresponds to one cross. They may additionally contain special characters. Each character has a specific color. You will find their designation in the "Conventions" section. Such schemes are very convenient. However, they can only be used if the number of colors used in the embroidery process is not very large. The presence of symbols that will accurately indicate the color or shade of the thread used will make it somewhat easier to work with a color scheme.

The disadvantages of working with such schemes include a rather large load on the eyes.

2. Black and white scheme

How to cross stitch in black and white? Having opened such a scheme, you will see a sheet of paper drawn into squares, each of which contains a symbol. This symbol indicates the color of the thread being used. If the picture depicts a sunset or a storm, it is unlikely that you will be able to work with a color scheme. Indeed, in this case, a lot of shades of the same color are used, which are difficult to distinguish from each other with the naked eye. A black and white scheme is ideal. And the load on vision when working with such a scheme is much lower than with its color counterpart.

Getting Started

Each needlewoman who already knows how to cross-stitch correctly will answer the question of where to start work in her own way. There are 3 options in total: start from the center, from the bottom or top corner. From the first cross, you need to gradually fill in the entire canvas. Starting work in the center, you are guaranteed to get a symmetrical picture. However, from the center it will be necessary to embroider in different directions, which is not very convenient. When embroidering from a corner, you need to know that its choice depends on the direction of embroidery. You need to choose the right corner if you sew the first stitch from right to left. Otherwise, you need to select the left corner. Be sure to calculate where the center should be. To make the work look elegant, the crosses should “look” in one direction.

Cross stitch rules for beginners:

  • the size of the needle must match the size of the canvas;
  • the direction of embroidery should be the same;
  • Before starting work, you need to determine the center of the fabric.

If we talk about embroidering pictures, then the craftswomen who already know how to cross-stitch pictures correctly, first of all, will carefully consider what size the fabric should be taken. Be sure to take into account that it will take 5 centimeters to fill the finished work into the frame.

Most Common Mistakes

Sometimes needlewomen embroider a couple of crosses in the wrong color or tone. If this error is invisible, then it can not be corrected. Otherwise, you need to flog those crosses that were embroidered incorrectly. But such errors as a different direction of cross-stitching or offset when embroidering symmetrical patterns will spoil the appearance of the work.

There are also errors that are very difficult to fix. It happens that the craftswoman makes too much indent from one edge and, as a result, there is not enough canvas from the other. Another mistake that is very difficult to correct is tissue damage. If low-quality threads were used for embroidery, they may shed during washing. There is no way to fix this error.

Each craftswoman works at her own pace. The main thing that affects the speed of work is the number of errors made. The embroidery process requires a scrupulous attitude. If all the preparatory work is done correctly, then most of the most common mistakes you will be able to avoid.