Accuracy and careful counting are just as important as neat stitches.Practise on smaller designs until you are confident with your stitching - the result may encourage you to try something a little more challenging.When finishing, weave the thread under a few stitches on the back of the fabric before trimming, again avoid tying knots as they Will show through the front especially on even weave fabric.Avoid trailing the thread over long distances when stitching in different areas - instead weave the thread under the stitches on the back of the fabric.If using 2 strands for the cross stitch - use the loop method to start this will help you avoid tying knots.Try to come up through an unoccupied hole and down an occupied one.Make sure that you use the correct amount of strands every time you thread the needle.Every so often let go of the needle and let it spin and unravel - this will help prevent knots forming).

Complete each stitch as you go as this will help get the stitches even tension (as opposed to making a line of diagonals and then going back across the row to complete the stitch - this can distort the fabric) Using a hoop or frame will also help with the tension.Ensure all the cross stitches are made in the same way i.e all the top diagonals have to lie in the same direction.Still, it might be worth it to have all the different sizes in one place you can keep on your computer forever.I am quite new to cross-stitch how do I make neat stitches?įirstly always stitch in good light and take your time practise does make perfect - here are few tips. The only catch is that they are in the website’s store as a product, so you have to go through the process of creating an account and checking out in order to download them.

These printables make it that much easier to make your own designs. You can use these to design for any of those counts, and there’s a little grid at the bottom where you can code the colored pencil or markings you make to the color of floss you want to use. The free PDF download includes four pages: (This website no longer exists but we were able to find these new links) If designing your own cross stitch patterns is one of your resolutions for the coming year, check out these free printable blank cross stitch grids from Ajisai Press.

Cross stitch graph paper 14 count