How to read a cross-stitch chart

If you’ve never followed a counted cross-stitch pattern before, a chart can look like a sheet of graph paper that someone has coloured in. That’s more or less what it is, and once you know what each part means, it’s straightforward to follow.

One square, one stitch

Each square on the chart stands for one square of your fabric. Aida, the fabric most people start on, is woven into a grid of small blocks with a hole at each corner, so one square on the chart is one full cross stitch on the fabric. An empty square on the chart means that square of fabric is left unstitched.

That’s why patterns are described by their stitch count rather than their size: a design 120 stitches wide is 120 squares wide on the chart. How big it ends up depends on the fabric you use, which our guide to working out the finished size explains.

Colours, symbols and the key

Each thread colour is shown on the chart as a colour, a symbol, or both. The key (sometimes called the legend) lists every one and tells you which thread it stands for, and usually how many strands to stitch with. Symbols are useful even on a colour chart, because two similar shades can be hard to tell apart on a printed page.

Counting the grid

Most charts draw a heavier line every ten squares. Use these to count: rather than counting 37 single squares, count three blocks of ten and then seven more. Your fabric doesn’t have these lines, so it helps to count on the fabric in tens too. Some stitchers tack in a temporary grid with a contrasting thread to match the chart, and pull it out at the end.

Finding the centre

Charts usually mark the middle of the design with small arrows along the top and side edges. Starting in the centre means the finished design sits evenly on your fabric, with the same margin all the way round.

To find the centre of your fabric, fold it in half one way and then the other: the point where the creases cross is the middle. Match it to the point where the chart’s centre arrows meet, and stitch outwards from there.

Lines, part stitches and other marks

Not every mark on a chart is a full cross stitch. Depending on the design, you may see:

• Backstitch: straight lines drawn over the grid, used for outlines and fine detail. These are usually stitched last, on top of the cross stitches.
• Fractional stitches: a square split diagonally, or a small symbol tucked into one corner, shows a quarter, half or three-quarter stitch. They help smooth curves.
• French knots: shown as a dot, often used for eyes and other tiny details.

Anything a pattern uses will be listed in its key, so check there first if you spot a mark you don’t recognise.

Charts across several pages

A large design won’t fit on one page, so the chart is split across several. There’s normally a small map showing how the pages fit together, and many designers repeat a few rows or columns at each page edge so you can line them up. If your pattern does this, take care not to stitch the overlapping rows twice.

Keeping your place

The easiest way to keep track is to mark off squares as you stitch them. On a printed copy, a highlighter works well. If you’d rather not print, apps such as Pattern Keeper let you open a compatible PDF on a tablet or phone and mark off stitches on screen. Chart Chic pattern pages say “Pattern Keeper file included” when a pattern comes with one.

Ready to try it? Patterns with fewer colours and a smaller stitch count are the gentlest way to put this into practice.