I learned counted cross stitch when I was younger, but I never really did much else with it in the years since. Over the past few days. I’ve been working on a project using multiple types of stitches (called a ‘sampler’). The pattern and instructions can be found here.
I made a few modifications (some unintentional, others planned once I saw how things were progressing), including making a few guesses on certain stitches since I was working with aida cloth (typically used in counted cross stitch, and what I was familiar enough with to order).
I am already working on another project, and have the next one line up as well. This project and the next two projects all work toward introducing new stitches. The sites also explain how to do the stitches, which is very useful to someone who is learning the craft.
I do still need to figure out which fabrics work best (I get the feeling aida is not necessarily the best, though I’m not letting that stop me.) I’m also thinking picking up some more floss, as I don’t have much in the way of colors. What you see above is actually a decent sampling, plus some additional greys and a few more pastels).
Do you have any advice for what fabrics you prefer, or where to get them? Is there a particular project you are working on (or would like to work on)? I would love you to hear from you!
~ Theresa
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Since Aida exists specifically to cross-stitch on, in that sense there’s nothing “better” for that. It can be unfriendly to other kinds of embroidery, though, as you discovered. You’ll see a lot of snobbery about Aida out there, as if it’s some simplistic thing for beginners and kid only. On the other hand, I’ve been stitching for 30+ years — I’m pretty sure I’m past both the beginner and the kid stages *laugh* — and while my eyesight no longer allows me to use linen or other fabrics of that type, I never in that time did use anything other than Aida. I never wanted to. All the projects on my blog are on Aida, either 14 or 16-count, and I challenge any of the snobs to label my current big project in particular simplistic. It all depends on what you do with it.
I’d say just experiment with stuff and find what suits you; there are lots of options, so you’re likely to find a favorite, or a few. Some fabrics can be expensive, but most are reasonable enough to buy in a small-to-medium project amount to try out. I buy from Walmart or JoAnn Fabrics if I don’t need anything unusual, and order larger pieces/unusual colors from 123stitch.com (great customer service and fast shipping). I’ve found some nice orphaned fabric at thrift stores, too. Hope this helps. and welcome to the addic– *cough cough* hobby! 🙂
Thank you for the wonderful comment. I’ve noticed some sites I’ve found during my research seem to suggest that Aida (and to a certain extent cross stitch) are the ‘easy mode’ compared to things like linen. Although I have found some that say it is simply more difficult for beginners to work with (Oops?).
I will certainly take a look at Walmart and some of the craft stores in the area and see what I can find. Thank you for the advice. I’ll have to keep 123stitch.com in mind for the future. You’ve certainly helped. Sometimes it seems like there is too much information available when trying to start a new hobby, and it can be difficult to figure out how to get a foothold. I’m thinking this should be quite the hobby (and a good addition to one of my other hobbies- knitting, depending on which size needles I want to use. Lol).
I remember there being a pretty steep learning curve on my first cross-stitch project, even with my mom there to show me; it took a couple of sessions to stop having to actively think about picking out the four holes that made up the corners of each square. It wouldn’t be hard to argue either way whether it’s the “starter” method or not. I’d say long stitch is easier to grasp the concept of, and quickpoint is easier to do.
Glad I could help! For floss, my Walmart has a selection of most of the common colors at a better price, and JoAnn has everything, but more expensive (but watch for the sales). If you have an LNS, that’s really where to go for fabric, though; even craft stores usually carry a pretty limited stock of that. For large projects or anything other than white or Fiddler’s cloth, I have to order, especially because I like to work on 16 count, and nowhere local to me carries it.
There seems to be a huge crossover between knitting and cross-stitch. I think at least some of it might be the similarity of charting making it easier to go from one to the other; all those little squares make sense. 🙂
Yeah, I remember my mom teaching me to cross stitch (I had a project for class where I had to learn a new skill). It wasn’t necessarily the easiest, but it did provide a good basis. I have noticed the ‘Walmart for cost vs craft stores for selection’ issue with regard to the floss. I’ll definitely keep an eye for sales. I know Hobby Lobby would do sales fairly frequently, but alas, I no longer live close enough to a Hobby Lobby for that to be my default craft store.
I’ll definitely look into cloth. I haven’t had much time yet to poke around at the local stores. Most of my experience has been with 14 count, although 16 count also seems like it could be quite nice to work with.
I could understand that. There’s just something nice about working with needles and thread/yarn. 🙂 I also found it interesting how much the chain stitch looks like crochet.
I did some basic cross-stitch in 3rd or 4th grade, the yarn on burlap thing; it was some kind of Christmas thing, maybe a stocking. It didn’t stick with me. I was 20, back home from college on break, and bored when my mom sat me down with a simple small chart with cats on it and showed me what to do. By the time I finished, I loved it, and the needlework shop we took it to for framing treated it as just as important as any of the big projects were and did a beautiful job framing it. That put the lock on it; I was hooked. That little project is still the first thing I hang anywhere I go.
I started using 16-count because my eyesight reached the point where I couldn’t work on 18 without a major struggle, which wasn’t at all enjoyable. The difference between 14 and 16 isn’t really noticeable until you start stitching, but it is there. Fortunately, my vision seems to have decided to stall out where it is now; I’d be okay if I had to move back to 14, but at 11, I’d likely give up stitching.
I tried knitting after my mom passed and I found the tools for it in her craft stuff that I inherited. I don’t remember her ever doing much of it, and I never got good enough to actually make anything. What I would like to try that she was into is macramé. I still have some of her old books on that, too, and a lot of the 70s-type stuff is back in style, and some of what I see being done now is amazing.
Ah, nice. I think I might remember doing something like that, too, now that you mention it. My first cross stitch piece was an orange and white cat. I’m not sure where it ended up, but I think it’s back home. I know it never got framed. That would have certainly been spiffy. It’s really nice when places treat all projects as the creative works they are. That sounds like a lovely tradition when moving. 🙂
That’s understandable. I think my first project was 11 count, and everything else I’ve done is 14. I dont blame you on 11 count. It’s good for starting out, and for certain projects, I’m sure, but it seems like it makes things a little too blocky.
I actually picked up knitting when I was 20. One of my best friends was learning from her mom, and about a week later her mom was teaching both of us. It’s mostly been scarves and a few hats (all but two scarves were gifts), a couple cats (very basic, but I still think they’re cute), and a blanket that has been in progress for several years, on and off. I’ll have to post that when I finish it. And nice, I don’t think I’ve come across much about macrame. That sounds like it could be really fun. 🙂
They did an amazing job on framing that tiny little project. It’s two cats sitting in front of a fence, and the fence looks like cypress, so they put it in a real cypress frame. It looks nice enough that even tiny and simple as it is, it gets a lot of attention. I’ve moved a lot over the years, and it’s small enough to wrap in clothes and put in a suitcase, so it’s been to a lot of places with me.
One of the bonus points of macramé for me is that depending on the cord used, vision can be mostly a non-issue. I never tried it when my mom did it, but she seemed to really enjoy it.
That sounds like a really cute scene. It’s nice when such lovely things are small enough to travel with easily.
That sounds like a really good way to keep crafting even when our bodies try to stop us. 😉 We will always find a way to put our creativity to good use.