Counted Cross Stitch: A Beginner's Question?

Question

I know that I have to start in the center of a design, but where do I go from there? So far I've been very carefully counting from the middle to the very top left of the color that crosses the centre, and then working rows left to right, top to bottom, then very carefully counting up to the top of the design (or the next color) and again working rows left to right, top to bottom. Is there an easier or more correct way to do this? I'm sure mis-counting the rows accounts for most if not all of the mistakes I make, and in part I'm looking to fix that, as well as make the process easier, and therefore more enjoyable. All tips are welcome!

Answer 1

It really depends upon the pattern. I start in the center section, at whatever color area is easiest -- if the center of the pattern is a mishmash of colors, then I pick an area close to it that's a solid color, start there, then work outward from there. (Hope that makes sense.) Basically, start at the center and work outward, whenever possible, adding to the outside as you go.

Good luck! Cross-stitching is fun, but it does take a while to get the hang of it.

Answer 2

I have been cross stitiching for a few years now, and I tried what you are doing with my first pattern. It was a disaster. I had to rip out countless rows and start all over again. The way I do it now is, I find the center, then I take a pencil and lightly draw where that color is in the middle, and for a few rows. I then take the color of thread, and cross stitch where I drew the pencil in. I was surprized when I did that, how I wrong I was with the pencil, and fixed it with the thread. Imagine if I hadn't done that, I would have to take all those stitches out. Hope this helps. They always say you can tell how good a cross stitcher is, because the back is supposed to look like the front. Have fun.

Answer 3

I found out the sure way for me is not to do the counting. The first thing I do is find the middle of the pattern and mark it with a loop of thread that I tie a knot at the end so it does not come out. The next thing to do would be to use some sewing thread the make large stitches in the material that matches the heavy lines on your pattern grid. By doing this you have the same grid shown on your pattern. You will not have to count your stitches. You can start any place on your pattern you want to. You just have to find the 10 X 10 square you stopped at and not get frustrated finding your stopping point. If you miss a stitch you can easily find out where it was and what color to use to fill it in. You will be able to complete you project much more quickley. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I think Irish Rose gave good advice. Look for a large bit of one colour near the middle. You can mark that spot on the fabric lightly to help you get started. You can start anywhere in the general area; I don't think it's important to get the exact centre, if you are a few stitches out, it won't matter unless your fabric doesn't have very big borders.
Use a highlighter pen to mark off each row of your pattern as you do it, this way you won't lose your place as easily. When you get a few rows of your first colour done, you can start a new colour relative to the colour you have done. For example, if you have done stitches in red, and the next colour to the red is black, start again in the same row as you started the red, count how many stitches are in black, and stitch those, then mark off with the highlighter. Generally, just build up from the existing stitched rows.
I also check pretty frequently; when I've stitched for a bit, I check my pattern to see if it matches my stitching. If you find a mistake, you have to decide whether it's a big enough mistake to unpick and do over. I let the small mistakes go, let's face it, who will even notice the small ones? No one is going to check the pattern!

Answer 5

I've been doing counted cross stitch for years. I tried doing what you are doing--once. Got it so messed up I had to throw the whole thing out and start over. What I've been doing ever since may not be acceptable to purists, but I don't get lost in the pattern.

Find the center of your fabric and the center of your design. If there is a good-sized splotch of color (bigger than 2 or 3 stitches) in the design that crosses the center, begin with that--and begin with the row in the center of the fabric. You do not have to work top to bottom or left to right. Just start with the stitch closest to the center. If both edges of that color are a long way from the center, just start with the center stitch and work out from there. At certain points, there are probably little groups of stitches that "sprout" off from the row you are working. I work those stitches in half-cross, work my way back to the main group by completing the cross and continue on.

When you have completed this first color splotch, find another splotch of color in the pattern that meets the splotch you just worked. Begin with a stitch that sits right against one from the first color. Count stitches relative to the stitches in the first splotch, not relative to the center of the design.

What is important is that you form your stitches the same way, be sure to CROSS your stitches in the same direction, maintain even tension, and don't get lost. It doesn't really matter whether you work particular section top to bottom or bottom to top, left to right or right to left. Have fun and enjoy!

Answer 6

I find the center of the design. Make a working copy of your chart and get a thin highlighter. I also take a light colored thread and mark the top of the fabric (by working a stitch or two in the top right hand corner), by doing this I can tell where the top is when I remove the hoop, never leave the fabric in the hoop when not stitching. Starting in the middle work a few stitches marking them off with your highlighter, you won't loose your place and the design comes alive under your needle. Be sure to cross your x's all in one direction, do not tie a knot when you have finished with one color, run it under a couple of stitches in the back of your work, a knot will make your stitching lumpy. One last thing be sure you store you work in a dry area and wash your hand a lot, the oils in you skin may stain your work.

Answer 7

I generally do large pictures, so it might be easy to get lost, but this is what I do. I find my center stitch and do the entire square (10x10) and go in a circular fashion around the center square, working 10x10 boxes. When i complete a square, I use a marker and cross it off on my pattern. That way I can always figure out where I am. If there are a few stitches of the same color in a box next to where I'm working, I'll do those also.

Answer 8

I use this idea because I always seem to be losing my center mark. Locate the horizontal and vertical centers of the piece of fabric you are working on and run a single strand of thread thru the holes in the fabric on the horizontal "center line" and the vertical center line. I don't use my embroidery thread; I had a spool of bright red sewing machine thread so that's what I use. It seems to be just a little thinner than the embroidery thread.

Start from one edge of the fabric and just loosely weave in and out every few holes. You don't even have to tie it off, just leave a long enough tail so you can re-weave if necessary.

It will be easy to locate your center even if you've stitched the design over it. Once you're done with your project, it's easy to pull your marker threads out if you haven't put them in too tightly. And if they get in the way while you're still working, just snip the marker thread where it's in the way and your center markers are still fairly intact.

If I'm working on a really large project and my pattern has gridlines, I mark the gridlines with sewing machine thread too (use a diff color than your center markers!). It also helps when you have lots of diff colors in the center and other areas where you are working.

I've also found it helpful to make sure your fabric is "squared." Sometimes the fabric edges aren't cut very straight and I just trim the edges a little so the edges of the fabric are even.

You'll still always have to start from the center, but I've found if I mark gridlines too I'm not always second guessing myself if I'm in the right place or not. And of course, I always cheat!

I hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't!

Answer 9

I find the center and then start with the closest large block of color. I'll stitch that starting from the point closest to the center, working towards the next closest block of the same color. I'll continue working out from that point almost like a spider web. I like working in the same color until I reach the edge of my q-snaps. (http://www.qsnap.com/)

Then I'll pick another color and fill it in over that same area. I don't like changing colors or moving my q-snap frame very often so I finish as much of each color in the section my frame covers as I can before moving on.

And, hey, if you get your pieces framed professionally it's kind of good to have the back neat but not looking the same as the front. A friend had to pay to have a piece re-framed when the framer couldn't tell the difference and displayed the back.

Answer 10

When I start at the center of a design, I work it by the motif. If, the center is a leaf, I work the whole leaf, etc. Then work outward and complete each element as I go. I make far fewer mistakes that way. It's more like putting together a puzzle than counting rows. Hope that makes sense!!!