How to Decorate With Cross Stitch

“What do you do with cross-stitch when finished?” has been the most common question asked by beginners in the hobby. In a nutshell, it means how to keep the project tidy and organized while not losing its charm and appeal.

Be practical, be creative, be resourceful, and be prepared for anything. It is a wonderful hobby that anyone can enjoy and really the only way to go about it is by following some basic rules for keeping your finished work neat and tidy.

Keep all your project supplies together in one place and read good quality and decent starter books to learn and apply these rules. You will want to consider all the different ways that you can do this so there are no mishaps along the way. If a stitch came undone, you have a backup stitch to work from.

Often the most frustrating aspect of your project is having a row appear messy or disorganized at the wrong time. Just keep in mind to take note of any stitches that are loose or frayed so that you can fix them before they become any more difficult. All stitching should be stitched through the back loop of the fabric, including any edge stitching as well. If not, you may damage your project.

When starting your project, consider using high-quality beads to embellish and add interest to your project. Making sure that you have plenty of cotton threads and plenty of wool fill will allow you to create your own designs. Sewing with your fabric will make your project so much more fun and you will not have to worry about ruining or wasting any of your precious work.

To save money, you may also want to reduce the thread count of your project when you finish it. Using a ten-foot square for your project will result in a finished project that will cost far less than you would pay for a twelve-foot square.

As you work on your project, be aware that you will not only be concerned with how it looks on the piece of clothing that it is on, but also how it is going to look on someone’s frame. Having a piece that is going to work well on a man’s frame, for example, may not be going to look good on a woman’s frame.

If you are working on a small project, you may only want to use two colors or maybe even one color. To be most effective, you should work to maintain your colored project so that you have very little to deal with when the project is completed. A two-color project is far less susceptible to fading as compared to a three or four-color project.

Material that is made from silk, that has a texture, is easier to handle than a material that has the other smoothness to it. When working with non-dyed or other colors, avoid working with light colors. Use a white thread and find a dark background so that the colors are able to be viewed clearly on a white shirt.

A person who has a flair for drawing or has an eye for design will benefit greatly from working on cross-stitch. However, working on this type of project requires patience.

When you have completed your piece and have realized that it is too large for the project box that you have chosen, remember that you can always use it as a scrapbooking project or simply find something that you love doing and then make another. Many people use their scraps as part of their local craft fairs or neighborhood Christmas shopping project. Always remember that you are using your scrap yarn and you should do what you enjoy!

One final note for those people who have to cross-stitch a project every month. Once you have finished a project, be sure to discard the project box and the needle so that they do not have to be thrown away. These items may last for many years and you never know when you will need them again.