Full Cross Stitch

Be sure that all of your stitches lie in the same direction. Bottom stitches should lie from bottom left to upper right and top stitches from bottom right to upper left. Work the stitches from the bottom to the top of the stitch, from left to right, then cross them as you work from right to left, still coming up at the bottom of each stitch and going down at the top.

Symbol with Backstitch

When there is a backstitch over one or two squares and the symbol is the same on either side of the backstitch, make a full cross stitch in that square. Add the backstitch last in the color indicated in the instructions.

1/4 Stitch
1/4 stitches on your chart 1/4 stitches on fabric
Helpful Hints:
1. Stitch from corner to center using the color indicated by the symbol.
2. Backstitch last in the color indicated in the instructions.

Special Note: If there are NO backstitch instructions given, stitch the backstitch line in the same or most predominant color in that area of the design.

3/4 Stitch
3/4 stitches on your chart 3/4 stitches on the fabric
Helpful Hints:
1. If the symbols are different on either side of the backstitch or there is a symbol on just one side of the backstitch, this will indicate that 3/4 stitches should be used in the color indicated by the symbol as shown above.
2. Add the backstitch last in the color indicated in the instructions.

Backstitching Instructions
Backstitching (BS) is a part of some designs as outline or as lettering. The purpose of the backstitch is to form a continuous line with each stitch touching. It may travel in any direction.
up at B - down at A up at E - down at D
up at C - down at B up at F - down at E
up at D - down at C up at G - down at F


French Knot

Use one strand of floss and bring the needle up where indicated on the chart by a dot where the chart lines intersect. Wrap the needle 1 time with the floss. Hold the floss tightly as you insert the needle back into the fabric 1 thread left or right of the hole. Pull through to form a small knot on top of the fabric.

DMC Metallic Floss Stitches
Make each stitch twice: make two half stitches, then return with two half stitches.

Helpful Hint: Use short lengths of metallic floss.
©2000 Designs by Gloria & Pat, Inc. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

YOU WILL LOVE WORKING ON LINEN! In the natural progression of cross stitching, you may have begun on an evenweave cotton fabric where one “square” on the cloth was equal to one stitch. A first project may have been a tiny flower or heart. Next, most stitchers experience a period in which sayings are popular, each done with a particular person in mind. Then, we go on to projects both useful and beautiful; pillows, clothing accents, birth and wedding samplers, etc.

Then—LINEN! This is the stuff heirlooms are made of. Linen is durable; it has a strength that will outlast cotton. It allows greater flexibility of design. It launders and becomes more beautiful each time. And it is the best; elegant and traditional.

Tips for Stitching on Linen

RAVELING
Use one strand of a light color to whip the edges of the fabric to prevent raveling.

HOOPLESS STITCHING

Cross stitch on linen does not require an embroidery hoop. Instead, the hand is held in a relaxed position with the thumb and forefinger grasping the cloth and the little finger anchoring it. On a tiny piece of fabric, it may be necessary to anchor with the ring finger. However, do not sew with the fabric wrapped over one finger—this may distort the stitches.

KNOTLESS WASTE KNOT



Start with a knotless waste knot. This means to leave the tail of the thread on top of the fabric, up and out of the way. When the thread is finished, work it under stitches on the back, either in the direction of the stitches or vertically. Then rethread the original tail and work it under stitches on the back in the same way.

THE FIRST STITCH

The first stitch and all subsequent regular stitches should begin at a VERTICAL thread. Why? The vertical threads (shaded area on left) act as little goal posts holding up the under-stitch. At the intersection where the vertical thread lays on top of the horizontal thread, start at the lower left hole.

Starting at a vertical thread acts as an early warning system, also. Should a regular stitch suddenly begin at a horizontal thread, it is a sign that threads have been counted incorrectly.

SEWING MOTION

A sewing stitch, one scooping movement in and out, is used with linen. Stitches should be neither loose and sloppy nor so tight that the spaces between the linen threads are enlarged. If light can be seen across the top of a row of stitches, the tension is too tight. Correct tension results in flat stitches that do not distort the background weave.

Do the bottom stitches first, then cross back.

The reverse side will be vertical lines.