Welcome to the step-by-step Stitch Tits stitching guide! If you purchased a Stitch Tits cross stitch kit, most of the supplies shown below will be included in that kit.
I’m excited to walk you through your stitching journey. Let’s get started!
Secure Fabric in Hoop
The embroidery hoop keeps your fabric SNATCHED and TIGHT so stitching is easier and your stitches are more consistent.
1.
Loosen the screw at the top of the embroidery hoop and remove the inner hoop.
2.
Place the inner hoop on a hard flat surface.
3.
Center the fabric on top of the inner hoop.
Place the outer hoop on top and push down so the inner hoop is nested in the outer hoop.
4.
Tighten the screw until the fabric is held securely between the inner and outer hoop.
5.
6.
Pull the fabric until it’s flat and taught in the hoop. Tighten the screw until it’s difficult to turn.
grid your fabric
The grid is like a map that helps guide you as you stitch. Use a water-soluble marker so you can wash it off later.
Use a ruler to find the approximate center square of the fabric.
1.
2.
Mark the center square with an X.
Beginning at the square to the right of the X, count to 10 and mark the 10th square with a dot.
3.
Beginning at the square to the right of the dot, count to 10 again and mark the 10 square with another dot.
4.
Beginning at the square just above the X, count to 10 and mark the 10 square with a dot.
5.
6.
Continue outward from the center, marking every 10th square with a dot until the entire fabric is gridded.
thread your needle
It can be hard to get floss through that tiny needle! Use a needle threader to avoid a mental breakdown.
1.
Separate two strands of floss from the 6 strands.
2.
Tie a double knot at one end.
3.
Trim the excess off the end.
Insert the larger hook end of the needle threader through the eye of the needle.
4.
5.
Fold the unknotted end of the floss in the hook.
6.
Pull the needle over the hook and thread so the thread goes through the eye of the needle.
find your starting point
This is where you’ll need your dot grid to guide you. The rows and columns with dots on your fabric represent the first rows and columns in each 10-square block on the pattern. I’ve highlighted the first rows and columns in the pattern (the image on the left) and the corresponding rows and columns on the fabric (the image on the right) to show you what I’m talking about.
1.
To find your starting point, you’ll pick the element of the design you want to start stitching. In this case, we’ll start with the hippo (instead of the hearts). Typically you’ll stitch top to bottom and left to right. So you’re going to start with the left-most stitch of the top row. I’ve indicated it with the red outline and arrow above.
Once you decide where you want to start in your pattern, find the square on the fabric where your first stitch will go. In this case, you’ll start in the 10-square block just above and to the right of the center. Within that block, you’ll start stitching in the square that’s in the second row and the second column. I’ve indicated it with the red outline and arrow.
2.
start stitching
Time to start stitching!
Diagram
A full cross stitch consists of a bottom stitch and the top stitch. To stitch a row, you start with the bottom stitches then turn back and add the top stitches.
2.
When you find your starting point (see previous section), thread your needle up through the bottom left hole.
Thread your needle back down through the top right hole. Continue stitching all bottom stitches of that color in the row.
3.
4.
Once you’ve reached the end of the row, thread your needle up through the bottom right hole of the last stitch.
Thread your needle back down through the top left hole. You’ve done your first full stitch! Continue stitching all of the top stitches in that row.
5.
When you’ve completed your first row, continue to the second row. Find the left-stitch of the second row and repeat steps 2 through 5.
6.
Continue stitching until you’re running low on thread. Flip your hoop over. Thread your needle through the back side of the stitches (at least three stitches for a firm hold).
7.
8.
Pull the needle tight enough so there is no slack left.
9.
Trim the excess.
WASH and iron YOUR FABRIC
Washing your fabric will remove the water soluble marker and any oils from your hands that could form stains over time.
1.
Loosen the screw and take your fabric out of the hoop.
2.
Put a couple of drops of dish soap in a medium-sized bowl and fill it with water. Submerge your fabric and soak it for at least 30 minutes.
Get a clean dish towel and lay it flat. Remove your fabric from the water and place it on the towel.
3.
Roll the towel with the fabric inside to remove excess water.
4.
Place your fabric on your ironing board with the back side facing up.
5.
6.
Iron your damp fabric using the cotton settings. Try to remove the worst wrinkles, but it’s ok if some remain. Let your fabric dry overnight.
frame your piece
Your hoop was an essential tool for stitching your piece. Now you can use it as a cute frame, too!
1.
Place your inner hoop on a hard flat surface.
2.
Place your fabric over the inner hoop with your stitch roughly centered within the hoop.
Place your outer hoop on top and push down so the inner hoop is nested in the outer hoop. Check that your stitch is centered. Adjust the placement of the fabric if necessary.
3.
Tighten the screw until the fabric is held securely between the inner and outer hoop.
4.
Pull the fabric until it is as tight as it can get while also making sure that the rows of the fabric stay straight. This may take several minutes and a lot of pulling/adjusting.
5.
6.
Once your fabric is a tight an straight as you can get it, tighten the screw until you can’t tighten it anymore.
Trim and glue your fabric
There’s quite a bit of extra fabric left over, so we need to hide it on the back of the hoop!
1.
Turn your hoop over and cut the fabric a little less than half an inch from the edge of the inner hoop.
2.
Cut a slit in the fabric all the way to the edge of the hoop.
Cut another slit about an inch and a half from the first one.
3.
Continue cutting slits about an inch and a half apart all the way around the hoop.
4.
Squeeze a thin line of fabric glue around the entire inside of the hoop, staying close to the outer edge.
5.
6.
Press the excess fabric onto the inside of the hoop, holding it until it adheres. Continue around the entire hoop.
Cover the back with felt
Last part! Covering the back side of your stitch with felt with make it look neat and finished.
1.
Squeeze a thin line of glue onto the fabric around the entire inside of the hoop.
2.
Put your hoop face down on a clean flat surface. Place the felt circle onto the hoop.
Press the felt down and push it against the inside of the hoop so it adheres.
3.
Continue pressing the felt to the inside of the hoop all the way around.
4.
Do one more pass around the entire inside of the hoop, making sure the felt has adhered.
5.
6.
You’re done! Admire your work and find a home for your new masterpiece!
