Basic Cross Stitch
Usually, you will want all the top halves of your stitches to slant
in the same direction. Stitches can look somewhat more uniform if
the first half of each stitch in a row is done on one journey, with
the top halves done on the return journey. (see diagram.) If you
actually care what the back looks like, this diagram will produce
all verticals on the back. |
Stitch-at-a-time
If you are using variegated thread, or making isolated stitches, you
may want to complete each stitch in order. This diagram will produce
all horizontals on the back. Be careful of carrying thread too far
on the back of the fabric - it can cause it to pucker, or may show
through to the front. Jumping more than 3 or 4 squares is not
advisable. |
Partial Stitches
To make rounded outlines, 1/4 and 3/4 stiches are used. Usually, the
foreground object's color is the dominant (3/4); sometimes each color is
used for a 1/4 stitch, and the outlining backstitch completes the form. |
Petit Point
You can use smaller stitches to get better details in an area such as a
face. Usually this will use half the number of strands of a full stitch.
Be careful not to pull the floss through between threads of the fabric.
One way to minimize this is to cross each stitch as you make it, and
make diagonals on the back of the fabric where possible. |
Backstitch
Backstitches are used to outline shapes in the pattern, giving them
a continous outline and an appearance of depth. Backstitiching is
usually done with half the number of threads as cross stitching, often
in black but sometimes in a darker shade of the pattern color (or
a lighter shade for dark fabrics). |
Double Cross Stitch
It is (supposedly) possible to cross stitch such that the reverse side
of the fabric [almost] mirrors the front. It seems to involve using partial
stitches at the ends of rows. |