Page 66 - Cross Stitch Gold (January 2020)

Technical know-how

Stitching guide

Use the handy diagrams and basic cross stitch advice on these pages
FIONA BAKER
TECHNICAL EDITOR to help you get the most out of the designs in Cross Stitch Gold

How to read Where to start stitching Sewing machine key

our charts Start stitching from your chart in the centre Cross stitch in two strands

All our charts are printed in both of the design – this is the point on the chart DMC Anchor Madeira
colour and symbols. Each square where the two black centre lines marked 8 775 1031 1001 light blue
on a cross stitch chart contains with arrows cross – and work outwards. 6 3325 129 907 blue
a symbol, and each symbol t 3354 36 2610 pink
Refer to the key for the colours and number
corresponds with one stitch. e 3756 1037 2504 baby blue
of strands to use. To find the centre of your
The key tells you what thread Backstitch in one strand
fabric, fold it in half both horizontally and
colour each symbol corresponds ––––– 562 210 1205 green
vertically. The centre point will be where
to, and how many strands to use ––––– 3799 236 1713 grey
these folds intersect. Mark this point with a
for each cross stitch, backstitch or French knots in one strand
French knot. It also gives you the pin, or run a line of tacking thread along each O 3799 236 1713 grey
design's dimensions, to help you fold using one strand of a pale colour thread. STITCH COUNT 20 high x 20 wide
cut your fabric to size. Bind the raw edges of your fabric to prevent DESIGN AREA 14 HPI (28-count evenweave) –
3.5x3.5cm (1½x1½in)
The thread numbers listed in the them from fraying while you're stitching by
This design was stitched using DMC stranded cotton
first column of the key refer to the hemming them using a zigzag stitch on your
brand that we've used to stitch sewing machine, or by folding masking tape
the design. Conversions for two over the edges.
other brands are given, but they're Fractional stitches
10 10
not always exact equivalents.
10 A tiny symbol in
Avoid mixing more than one
the corner of a
eeee
brand in the same design. 8eeee eee tttt ee
eeeeee
e
e
square on a chart is
Sometimes you'll need more than 88eeeeeeeeettttte6e
8eeeeeeeeeettttee 6e
8 t t a fractional stitch;
one skein of a certain colour, but 6 8e888888888 ttt ee6e
8
t
t
8
68e88 666666 88 t eee6e it's worked in the
there shouldn't be a problem 68e86 6 6 6 88eee68 e
8
e
6
688 8 68eeee 8 same colour as the
with dye lots if you use the brands 6 6 8 8 688eee
8
688eee large version of the
quoted in the key. 688eee
symbol. If there's
Each project also includes a 6 6 888eee
688eee
6 only one tiny symbol, work a three-quarter
shopping list telling you what 6 66 888eeeee
666666666 8888eeeeee stitch (a half cross stitch and a quarter
type and size of fabric to use, what 6888888888eeeeeeeee
8
66 88888eeeeeeeeeeeee stitch). Bring your needle up at the corner
size frame you'll need, and if extra 666 88888888eeeeeeeee
8
8
10 6666666 8888888888888 of the square, then take it down at the
materials are required.
centre of the square. You'll have to pierce
aida fabric (but not if you're stitching over
two threads on evenweave). Add a half
How to cross stitch cross stitch (see top diagram). When two
Thread your needle with the correct different symbols share a square, make a
number of strands. Find the centre points quarter stitch in one colour and a three-
on the chart and your fabric to work out quarter stitch in the other. Use the three-
where to start. Bring the needle up through quarter stitch
the fabric at the bottom-left corner of the for the object
square, leaving the end of the thread on the that the top halves lie in the same direction. that’s meant to
back. Take it down at the top-right to make This will make your finished stitching look be in front in the
a half cross; bring it up again at the bottom- neat and tidy. If you're working a block of picture, and the
right corner, securing the end of thread on stitches in the same colour, stitch a row of quarter stitch for
the back; take it down at the top-left corner half crosses first, before completing each the background

to form a cross. Work each cross stitch so cross on the return journey. colour.

64 Cross Stitch Gold