Cross Stitchers unite.....
As I have cross stitched for decades...WE did not have teaching videos in fact I would have been hard pressed to come up with any how to anything...I learned by doing....

But you won't have to do that....I am going to share with you a few things that have worked for me...

ARE YOU READY?

YOU will need a pattern...duh....lol
needles -I like Clover....
sharp little scissors
little white beads and beading needle ( this is the very fine needle to put your beads on) summer pattern needs beads for bathing cap, but you can also just cross stitch using white threads.

DMC 1764-10/12 Beading Hand Needles, 6-Pack, Size 10/12

DMC threads
fabric be it aida cloth or monaco by DMC or any other fabric you are comfortable with...
lighting
readers if needed.
Stick with Me pattern holder.... * optional but my oh my it speeds your stitching up by 50%


1. Choose your pattern, I am beginning Brookes Vintage Fall today.... ( completed Spring and Summer) I printed off my pattern, because I like to see it up close and personal. I pulled out all my DMC threads that I will need....

2. I take all of my DMC skeins and rewind them on these plastic bobbins... I add the colour slipper onto my bobbins - this works for me... I purchased large rings and each project I add a piece of card stock with the name of the project and cut a hole and place on the ring...
So I don't get confused which project I am working on and great for later when I am looking for colours....I cut out the piece of the pattern with all the coloured symbols and keep that with each circle of floss. ( picture below on my frame)
( I used to work from the skeins and got frustrated when I would lose the wee slippers (what I call them) with the numbered floss on them... Well this solution works, you could always make them out of card stock too.

3. Now choose your frame.....as the Stitching piece is around 5 x6 inches, an 11 x 11 inch frame by YARN TREE, Q-SNAPS is perfect for this size pattern.... It is actually my preferred frame size for a lot of my stitchings.. it will be your fav too. By the way I cut my fabric pieces 14 x14. I like having just a tad extra so your fabric is plenty large enough to centre for the panel cut for the Tammy bag.
I know some have circle frames, and they are ok, but I don't like that they leave marks on your fabrics and no matter how much you press them they are harder to rid of next to just using a Q-Snap frame...
4. Always stitch from the centre, fold your fabric piece in 4, pinch the centre...that is your first stitch...or count to the left where your first stitch should go....
5. YOU all have your own method of seeing your pattern to follow... I used to place in on a frame and sit it on the arm of my chair, problem with this, is I would count wrong and end up pulling out stitches because I would lose my place... and I would get dizzy back and forth, back and forth.. You get it right? lol
6.SOLUTION. I found some amazing magnets ( strong enough to hold 8 folds and fabric) and with a self covered buttons provided a perfect solution to read my pattern.. I fold it to just the area I am working...it makes it sooooo much easier to follow and I do not have to mark off my stitches as I go, because I can clearly see them
I have these available ...they are $10.00 a piece and shipping... Let me just say, once you have one, you will wonder why you did not think of this yourself.....STICK WITH ME, is what I call them... A new bunch of magnets will be here any day so let me know your colour preference... They are industrial strength and I had to purchase quite a few for a minimum order.
They also hold your needle on top..that is a BONUS! I have made quite a few in any colour you like...

7. Kate ( video lady below) and I agree with this one thing...threading the needle...I only do this for the first stitch... fold one strand in half and use your loop to anchor your first stitch....For all the other x-stitches I use 2 strands of threads...DMC has 6 strands, I cut 18 inches no longer than that, separate 2 threads, then separate those 2 threads and bring them together and then thread your needle...This helps to keep your threads nice and flat..if they are twisted you won't have a nice x stitch.. ( will show you a photo of that tomorrow)

I love CLOVERS gold eye embroidery needles 3-9....I have tried hundreds, these are the best for me...and likely for you too.... I also use 18 kt gold DMC number 24-26

Once you have done a few stitches and you are ready for stitching with 2 separate strands of floss, turn your frame underneath and slip stitch your thread around a couple other stitches to anchor it....flip back to the front, and begin counting and stitches...

8. I only do half stitches to the right , maybe 10 and then I go backwards and cross them to the left...
repeat....as you go along...this works for me..


8. As Brooke's VINTAGE patterns have wee samples of stitching projects, take your time and do one at a time...sit back and admire...YOU ARE A CROSS STITCHER. ( in the making)

9. For those who are just beginning, Aida cloth is a perfect choice number 14 HOLES PER INCH....Kate will explain that on her video...I love MONACO linen like -that DMC has...it has 9 holes in a square where you will be crossing your stitches...it is pretty easy to follow once you have made your first CROSS STITCH. They call this 28 count...but it is really 14, as the cross stitch is exactly the same size..Ivory's and tea stains are good ones to start with....

10. For those who are having a hard time seeing the holes...READERS.COM have 600 pairs of glasses for just this type of project... these are called CLOVER.

YOU WANT POWER, check to see which strength you need here..
They are affordable and by golly, I can stitch 50% faster with them then without them.. This is my newest pair....
HERE IS a list of their best sellers....check it out , it will bring a smile or two and give you some great ideas for good reads...wink.

11. and for those looking for great lighting...I cannot tell you enough how my BEAM N READ makes for ease of stitching..... I will try to get a better photo up later....BUT THIS one notion
makes my life so much easier, especially when cross stitching...

HERE is a link to some valuable CROSS STITCHING tuts from DMC....


stitch guide to how to cross stitch


Now sit back and enjoy our sweet KATE.....she has a wealth of knowledge to share...

Proud to introduce....Kate from Bothy Threads.....


If you are not sure of something....drop us a line..we will help you....

Now get stitching.....that is what I am doing for the rest of the afternoon... I will be as busy as a

UPDATE...a look at all of my tools and some stitching techniques...


I am back...and I am really excited about returning to cross stitching... with adding it to quilting and sewing projects, well can I just say we will all keep you stitching for a very long time... All the while I was away, I had my little tote with all these necessary tools..
Let's review my list...could be yours too....

Beam N Read q-snap ( frame 11 x11) perfect size stick with me pattern holders monaco fabric ( dmc) readers embroidery needles this wonderful hand carved seam ripper dmc floss, bobbins and ring.. SCISSORS small...( forgot to add them to photo)
I don't go anywhere without all these necessary tools.. As I keep repeating over and over we are only good as our tools..
MOST VALUABLE tools here beside the obvious..Pattern and chart..
READERS STICK WITH ME Pattern holder.. Beam n Read
In the past I did not have these 3....I never felt like I needed them... But as I got older and somewhat wiser.... these are a sweet BONUS to my stitching world....
READERS, even though I do not need glasses to read... I chose 2.50 readers for cross stitching and it has actually speed up my stitching by 75 % ...NO way would I even tackle any stitching now without them.... If any of you are saying you can do cross stitching anymore.. TRY READERS FIRST......
Stick with me Pattern HOLDER....welllll in the past I had purchased so many stands, to hold my patterns, I used markers to cross off each stitch.. ( that can slow you down) and still I would lose my spot....I also would get frustrated as no stand ever stayed still on the arm of a chair... NOW with these pretty amazing magnets....they will hold your pattern with 8 folds.. I found the most powerful magnets that exist and they are also wonderful for holding your needles too..
This way I am not marking my pattern, I am no longer losing my spot.. I am certainly not losing my needles anymore either......I cannot believe I did not think of this before... You just fold your chart only to the area you are working on....an extra stick with me...can hold your stitching chart too....
BEAM N READ it is not one of the best... IT IS the BEST...another tool I have purchased in the past that never provided the light and battery life this has... Do you yourself a FAVOUR....get one... especially if you will be revisiting cross stitching again...

The rest of the tools are nice to have too, besides my wee NOVA scissors that are not in this pic....this seam ripper is just beautiful.... Suze one of our ladies......her brother makes these and they are beautiful and very sharp...great when you have to pull out a few stitches, I don't do it that often only if I am tired....so it is good to have such a tool hand....

cannot forget some small scissors...

You cannot lose your spot when you are just working in small sections....

I use 2 threads.....I always cross my stitch from left to right... I will do a row and then go back and cross my stitches.... This way if you do make a mistake, you are only taking out half stitches.. Took me years to figure that one out lol..
YOU see those empty spots....well that is different coloured floss... I will do up all one colour first, then I will go to the next colour and on and on... I always find my centre of my fabric, and I always begin my stitching on the left side...I don't think there is any wrong way of doing it...I just have always started from centre left...

(this was a copy of a post I did awhile ago...but i have been receiving many requests of necessary tools...this is for you cross stitchers to be....