What you need to start cross-stitching
A beginner’s checklist for counted cross-stitch: the fabric, thread, needle and hoop you need for a first project, plus the extras that can wait.
· 3 min read
One of the nicest things about cross-stitch is how little you need to begin. Here’s what to get for your first project, and what can wait.
The essentials
- A pattern. For a first project, choose something with a smaller stitch count and only a few colours.
- Fabric. 14 count Aida in white or cream is the easiest to start on. Buy a piece bigger than the design, with at least 7 to 8 cm spare on every side.
- Stranded cotton. Also called embroidery floss. Each length is made of six fine strands that you separate and recombine; on 14 count, most patterns use two. Chart Chic patterns are charted for DMC, and the key lists each colour you’ll need.
- A tapestry needle. These have a blunt tip that slips through the holes without splitting the fabric, and a large eye for the thread. Size 24 suits 14 count.
- Small, sharp scissors for trimming thread close to the fabric.
Worth having
- An embroidery hoop or frame keeps the fabric taut, which makes your stitches more even. A 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) hoop is a comfortable size to start with.
- Thread bobbins or a thread card keep your colours sorted and labelled to match the key.
- A highlighter for marking off stitches on a printed chart.
- A needle minder, a small magnet that holds your needle when you put your work down.
- Good light. A daylight lamp makes a real difference, especially on finer fabrics.
How much thread will I need?
A standard skein of stranded cotton is about 8 metres long. For a small or medium design, one skein of each colour is usually plenty. Colours that cover large areas, such as a background, may need two or more. If your pattern’s key gives skein amounts, go by those; otherwise our thread calculator will estimate them.
Before you start
- Wash and dry your hands. Natural oils and hand cream can mark fabric over time.
- Cut your thread into lengths of about 45 to 50 cm (18 in). Longer lengths tangle and wear thin from being pulled through the fabric again and again.
- Find the centre of your fabric and of the chart, and start from there. Our guide to reading a cross-stitch chart explains how.
- Learn a knot-free way to start your thread; our guide to starting and finishing threads covers three.
