For this first blog post, here are my general tips and tricks when starting a new cross stitch project.
Read your cross stitch chart
The red lines on the grid are the middle of the design, the bold ones appear every 10 stitches. Each colored square represents a cross stitch, and the symbol of each ones will tell you which color to use.
Start at the center of the fabric
Fold the fabric twice to find the middle. On the pattern, the center is at the intersection of the two red lines. It is a general tip from me, as I feel like it helps having regular margins without having to trace everything. Starting in a corner is also very popular and if it fits with your stitching style, do not change it!
Grab your thread: the symbols on the pattern match a DMC color
Choose one or two colors near the center of the design to start your project.
Start with a loop start, a knot, or waste thread: what works best for you!
You can watch Youtube videos or look at some tutorials online if you’re not sure. The right way is the one you like.
Stitch in the order that you like the most
You can focus on one color, or stitch by area, or a little bit of both. Popular cross stitch methods include parking and cross country stitching. In my case, I usually do some variation of cross country stitching where I stitch by areas of color and swap the colors I focus on often so there is no big blank spot of fabric.
Find a way to keep track of your project
I feel like it helps a lot to avoid counting errors, but I can be easily distracted... If you print your project, you can cross the stitches as you go or use a marker pen to highlight.
If you dont print, there are some handy apps like Pattern Keeper where you can tap your stitches to mark them as done and even have some % of progression!
Enjoy and relax!
I love this craft and I hope stitching my design will be a good time for you. Take regular breaks, be mindful of your neck, back and hands and enjoy 💜