What Cross-Stitch Is
Counted cross-stitch explained: the grid fabric, the chart, and the single stitch that makes the picture.
Pictures built from small crosses
Cross-stitch is a form of counted embroidery. The fabric is woven as a grid of small squares with a hole at every corner. A printed chart shows the design as a grid of symbols. Each symbol is one X-shaped stitch in one colour. You count squares on the chart, count the same squares on the fabric, and stitch.
Nothing is drawn on the fabric. The grid keeps every stitch the same size, which is why first pieces usually turn out neat.
What you need
- Aida cloth, 14-count, in a light colour
- A blunt tapestry needle, size 24
- Stranded embroidery floss
- Small scissors
- A chart. There are eight on this site.
A hoop is helpful but not essential, because Aida is stiff.
How it differs from hand embroidery
Hand embroidery uses a sharp needle on plain fabric and many different stitches placed freely. Cross-stitch uses a blunt needle that slips through the existing holes of gridded fabric, and almost everything is the one cross-stitch. See What Embroidery Is for a side-by-side table.