Common Embroidery Methods of Cross Stitch

Currently the common embroidery methods are, Buttonhole Stitch, Chain Stitch, Broken Stitch, Fly Stitch, Feather Stitch, Flap Stitch, Backstitch Stitch, Crested Stitch, Crean Stitch, Cross Stitch, and French Knot.

Full Needle Embroidery (X)

It is first threaded up by mesh 1, then down by mesh 2, then up by mesh 3, then down by mesh 4, then up by mesh 5, then down by mesh 2, then up by mesh 3, then down by mesh 6, and so on

Half Needle Embroidery (1/2X)

Half Needle Embroidery is made up of a diagonal line. That is, half of the full needle embroidery

Quarter embroidery

1/4 needle embroidery is made up of half of the diagonal line, if you want to border line square in the residual part of the performance of different colors, then you need to have 1/4 needle embroidery to show

Three-quarter embroidery (1/2X)

3/4 embroidery is made up of a complete diagonal line and half of the diagonal line out of the "The first stitch comes up from mesh 1, then goes down from mesh 2; the second stitch comes up from mesh 3, then goes down from mesh 2, then comes up from mesh 4 and goes back to mesh 3. Except for the first stitch, the rest of the stitches go back to the original mesh by way of backstitching. Eye. The backstitch is generally used for overstitching threads, outlines, and letters

French Knot

Lift the needle up to 1 to thread it, wrap the thread around the needle, and insert the needle in position 2. Hold the end of the embroidery thread with the non-embroidered finger and pull the knot tight, while later passing the needle through the fabric and holding the thread until it must be loosened. If you make a big knot, you can increase the number of strands of thread appropriately, but only wrap it once

Flat Petal Needle

Thread the needle out of position 1, wrap the thread back around, and then thread the needle in from 1, and then thread it out of 2, press down on the thread that is wrapped back around, and tighten the thread to form the shape of a petal, and then thread the needle into it from 2

Cross-stitch embroidery has a lot of rules, and one of the most important ones, is that it is an activity of self-entertainment, and you can completely The most important one is that it is a self-entertainment activity, you can embroider as you like, there are no rules that you have to follow, including everything that will be written later.

[Edit]Cross Stitch Other Common Sense

1, choose the embroidery cloth - is it AIDA or linen and other EVENWEAVES?

Many people start out cross stitching on AIDA, and then move on to linen or other EVENWEAVES when their embroidery work matures. Many embroiderers are more familiar with how to embroider on linen. In fact, this is entirely a personal choice, and there are quite a few skilled embroiderers who prefer AIDA.

An EVENWEAVE is a fabric that has the same number of counts of yarns spun horizontally and vertically over the same length, perhaps not uniformly thick or thin on each strand - this is quite obvious from linen - but the number of threads must be the same for a given length of time.

Cross stitch on AIDA is done with X's in a square, whereas on linen or other EVENWEAVES, since there are no small squares, it is usually done across two strands of yarn on the cloth. This means that a 28 COUNT linen and a 14 COUNT AIDA, the embroidered piece is the same size.

We all have the feeling that AIDA feels far stiffer than EVENWEAVES fabric. This can not say EVENWEAVES good or bad, completely by personal preference. And the softness of the embroidery fabric does not affect the choice of flower support or embroidery frame.

When embroidering 1/4 and 3/4 stitches, EVENWEAVES fully demonstrates its superiority. When embroidering both types of stitches on AIDA, we need to stick the needle through the center of a small square, and sometimes we have to use a thinner needle, such as a 26 or even a 28 gauge needle. Whereas, when embroidering on EVENWEAVES, you just need to pass the needle between two strands of embroidery fabric silk, with no effort at all.

Also, while some people think you can see the holes more clearly on EVENWEAVES, others think AIDA is easier.

The embroidery cloth as the background of the embroidery is very important, when choosing the embroidery cloth, not only to consider the color, but also to consider the texture of the cloth.

Usually AIDA is cheaper.

No matter what kind of embroidery cloth you choose, don't be greedy for cheap, try to choose a good one, because the time and effort spent on embroidering a piece of work is definitely much more than the value of this embroidery cloth, in that case, why not do better?

[edit]Cross Stitch Complete Tips

How to choose embroidery thread? Generally speaking, the regular embroidery charts will indicate the category and thread number of the embroidery thread. The semi-finished bag will even provide embroidery thread in addition to the embroidery chart. However, there are still times when you would like to choose your favorite thread yourself. The following is a discussion of the various situations in which you need to choose your own thread.

Scenario 1: The embroidery thread in the semi-finished package is not of good quality. This is often the case, for example, when you buy a package of embroidery from a street vendor and the embroidery thread is of poor quality and the colors are incorrect or incomplete. In a better case, the drawings inside indicate the brand and color number of the embroidery thread needed, and we can go and buy good embroidery threads to embroider on our own. However, this is not often encountered, and most of the time only the order of the embroidery threads is marked on the drawing. At this point, we can only go as far as possible to find a color card of all the colors of some well-known brand of embroidery floss, such as DMC or Anchor, preferably with actual embroidery floss samples. Then you compare the colors of the embroidery thread and the drawing as carefully as possible to find the most flattering color number. When comparing colors, you should be outside in natural light. Once you have found it you can mark the color number on the drawing. If you can't find a color card, then you will have to take the embroidery thread in the package to a nearby cross stitch store, where name brand embroidery threads are usually available for comparison. Note that the lighting in some stores may not be suitable and may make the thread color look distorted.

Scenario 2: You want to use a different brand of floss than the one shown on the drawing Some drawings will have color codes for two or more brands of floss at the same time. If the drawing doesn't have the number of the thread you can buy, you should get a color code conversion chart. The MILO website has them.

Scenario 3: You have designed an embroidery chart yourself, or you want to change the effect of a particular embroidery chart. If you are so experienced that you are able to design your own embroidery without using software like pcstitch, then you will definitely go for embroidery threads. Apart from DMC cotton embroidery threads, you can use some of the various different types of embroidery threads that you can buy, such as metallic threads or hand dyed silk threads. The choice of thread should also take into account the end use, for example, when embroidering bibs or clothes for babies, do not use silk threads that tend to lose their color, or metallic threads that have a hard texture.

Scenario 4: You are not satisfied with the thread on the embroidery drawing and want to use a different color If the embroidery drawing is a simple geometric shape or a simple picture without shading, feel free to use your own favorite color, it does not matter. But if it's a complex drawing, pay more attention and put more thought into it. Compare the color set suggested on the drawing with the color set of the new threads you wish to use and make sure they are the same. This can be done by placing the threads under red glass or transparent colored paper, filtering out the stray colors, and looking for the same color; or by comparing the two types of threads after taking a black and white photo (PHOTOSHOP software can convert a color photo into a black and white photo). What is a "Z" wrap and what is an "S" wrap? Noeline McCaughan explains it as follows: In order to make the embroidery thread look neat, we can use the "Z" or "S" shape to wind the thread. Hold a strand (6 threads) of thread in front of you. If the thread is twisted from the right side of the top to the left side of the bottom, we call this thread a "Z" wrap; if the thread is twisted from the left side of the top to the right side of the bottom, it is an "S" wrap.

Embroidery Needles Cross-stitch needles are special needles with a blunt tip and a large eye, larger than normal needles. The blunt tip will not pierce the embroidery thread during the embroidery process. Cross stitch needles come in different lengths, the larger the number the smaller the needle. Generally there are 22, 24, 26 and 28 gauge needles. Typically, size 22 needles are used for 14COUNT or smaller embroidery fabrics, size 24 or 26 needles are used for 16-18COUNT embroidery fabrics, and size 28 needles are used for 18COUNT and larger embroidery fabrics. The needle should be large enough to slightly move a single fiber of the embroidery fabric, which will prevent the embroidery thread from knotting or rubbing too much and hurting the thread as it passes through. Needle selection also takes into account the thickness of the embroidery thread and the number of strands used. All things being equal, it's good to use your favorite needle size. The lacquer plated on the needle will peel off after a long time of use, which makes it unattractive and makes the needle difficult to use. A new needle is needed. There are some specially treated needles with gold or platinum plating on the surface, which will be more expensive but will last a long time. You can choose your favorite needle to use. Armchair cushions are great for holding needles, but that would be inconvenient for your family or let them see your embroidery paraphernalia that you don't want them to know about. So you can use a sponge cushion that is designed to hold needles, and also a magnetized needle case is good. Fixing the color of the embroidery thread Generally embroidery threads are colorfast. However, some people are very cautious when embroidering dark colors or works that they want to keep for a long time, and want to further ensure that the color of the thread will not stain the cloth or other embroidery threads. This is done as follows:

1. Remove the thread from the bobbin winder.

2. Separate each strand of the embroidery thread and place it in a couple of glass containers filled with cold water or distilled water at room temperature de glass containers. Some people recommend adding a little white vinegar or salt, but for certain types or colors of thread, vinegar or salt may undulate around, so caution is advised.

3. Wash in distilled water.

4. If the color of the water is not clear, change the water again and rinse again until the water becomes clear. 5. Place the thread on a white paper towel to dry. The color of the embroidery thread should not be stained on the paper towel. If there is color on the paper towel, wash it again.

5. Prepare the embroidery cloth The items mentioned below are the most conservative and secure treatment. It's never a bad thing to have a list of all the things you may need to pay attention to during the embroidery process beforehand. You can still keep your original embroidery habits to your liking, or you can pick and choose what makes sense to improve on.

1, before embroidery, remove the embroidery cloth on the border. Because the tight border will affect the texture of the cloth direction and shape, and then affect the embroidery.

2. It is also recommended to keep the border, because the border can play a protective role when using the embroidery frame.

3. Make sure the count of the embroidered fabric is the correct value you need. How to determine this? Measure out one inch (about 2.54 cm) and count the number of small squares (AIDA) or the number of fibers in the fabric (EVENWEAVES) in between. If there is an error in the size, then it is time to adjust the embroidery fabric size to the size indicated on the drawing. For example, the drawings indicate 32COUNT of embroidery fabric, you have only 30COUNT of linen in your hands, then you have to recalculate the amount of cloth according to the drawings, this time you need a piece of cloth that is larger than what is written on the drawings.

4, the embroidery cloth cut into the required size. The drawing is mostly the size of the design, you need to leave 5 to 10 centimeters more on the outside of each side on this basis.

5. Rinse the dark or red embroidery cloth again to make sure that the color does not come off. Of course, if you are sure that the embroidery cloth will not lose color, you don't need to rinse it again and again.

6, if there is a crease on the embroidery fabric, try to make the crease as flat as possible, or make sure you can iron it flat later.

7, deal with the sides of the embroidery fabric. There are specific options as follows: . Lock the loose edges with a yardage edge machine. . Dab the edges of the embroidered fabric with a yardage liner. Folding the embroidery cloth's edge. Fold over the edges of the embroidered fabric and sew them by hand. Hand-stitch. Wrap the edges of the embroidery cloth and hand sew them on. Tape the edges together with protective tape. In this way, you will need to cut an additional two centimeters from each side of the fabric. Since the tape has chemicals that can contaminate the fabric, you should cut off the contaminated parts later. Leave it alone! Let the fabric go as it pleases. A lot of fabric will just have a few fibers loose on the sides, and it won't affect the size of the fabric. So, if the few loose fibers that come off don't affect the operation, let them go. To Use or Not to Use Flower Props A commonly accepted opinion says that if you are embroidering on AIDA, you should use flower props; if you are embroidering on linen, you can't use them, so you have to prop them up by hand. In reality, however, many people have their own preferences. Some people who like to keep their embroidery neat and tidy don't like to use a round flower support when embroidering on linen and opt for a square embroidery frame to avoid damaging the embroidered fabric or leaving marks that can't be removed. If you already like to use a flower support, then by all means use it; if you feel that you can control the tightness of the embroidery thread by hand, then there is no need to force yourself to change.

The advantage of not using an embroidery frame: The operation of embroidery is just like sewing, it does not require much wrist movement, and it is much faster to embroider. There is no need to worry about leaving traces of the embroidery frame on the embroidery. The size is very small, no embroidery frame or flower support takes up space, and it is light to carry. Some people like the feeling of holding the embroidery fabric in their hands, which is also a very important pleasure of doing cross stitch.

Benefits of using the embroidery frame: The embroidery frame can tighten the embroidery cloth to make it flat. The embroidery frame can also not pull the embroidery cloth too tight so that it can be embroidered in the same way as sewing clothes. The use of embroidery frame can make the progress of the embroidery at a glance without the need to stop and unfold to see. There are two types of frames: tabletop and vertical. Vertical frames can be used with two hands, one on top of the embroidery cloth and one underneath. A well-made embroidery stand is also a beautiful piece of furniture, and with the unfinished embroidery, it has a very homely atmosphere. For some people who are difficult to hold the embroidery in their hands for a long time, the vertical embroidery frame is the best choice, because the embroidery frame reduces the pressure on the ligaments, joints and muscles, especially for older embroidery friends.

Length of embroidery thread Generally speaking, you should cut the embroidery thread into about 50 centimeters long. Metal threads or other threads with rough surfaces should be cut shorter to avoid excessive thread wear. When using embroidery thread, you should first separate each embroidery thread individually, and then re-twist them together, which can reduce the chances of the thread twisting together or knotting, and then make the embroidery flat. When separating a strand of embroidery thread from several strands, pinch the top of all the threads with your thumb and forefinger, and the other thumb and forefinger pinch one end of a thread and pull upward. At this point it looks as if several embroidery threads are going to form a knot. Don't worry, there's no problem, the rest of the threads will be back in place as soon as the desired thread is pulled out. How many strands of thread are used? Often, cross stitch patterns are designed with a portion of the embroidered fabric exposed for the background, but some people prefer to embroider all over. How many strands of thread to use depends a lot on personal preference. Generally two or three strands of embroidery floss are used for 14count cloth; two strands for 18count cloth;

Three or four strands of embroidery floss are used for 11count. To find your favorite effect, try a few stitches on the embroidered cloth and then remove it. Where to start embroidery? Preparation has been done up to now, you can start embroidery on a new blank piece of embroidery cloth. Yes, where to start this first stitch? Is it the center of the embroidery cloth or the upper left corner? Or from the bottom right corner? The embroidery chart should be in the center of the embroidery cloth. Fold the embroidery cloth in half horizontally and vertically to find the intersection point, which is the center of the embroidery cloth, and insert a pin, or pass a thread through it, or embroider a stitch, mark it anyway. Now that you have found the center of your work, it's up to you where you want to start. There are a few things to keep in mind about where to place the needle during the embroidery process:

1. Some designs make it obvious where you should start.

2. Start in the center. This ensures that all future work will not be off center. And on many designs, the center is usually the most attractive part of the design.

3. The direction of your stitches also determines the starting point. Try to have your needle come up through a certain hole that has the least amount of embroidery thread going through it, and zigzag down through a hole that has more embroidery thread going through it. How to cope with each section of embroidery thread Strongly recommended: the embroidery thread should not be knotted! Only in very rare cases, such as an isolated stitch where there are no more stitches nearby, in order not to loosen the thread, should you tie a knot. The disadvantages of knots: . A knot in the thread creates a bulge at the back, which in turn affects the image of the embroidery in front. . The thread can trip over the knot during the embroidery. . Because knots have no stretching ability, they can distort the embroidered fabric. . If the embroidery fabric fibers are loose, the knot may burrow through the front of the embroidery fabric. . If you make a mistake during the embroidery process, the knot will be difficult to remove and start over, and will interfere with the removal of other threads. . Knots make the back of the embroidery look messy. Usually, the back of the embroidery should also be relatively neat and fresh. So, what should be done? There are a number of methods to choose from below, depending on the situation. Go underneath the threads. If you are now going to start on the right side of a few stitches you already have, then pass the thread through four or five stitches on the back. This is shown below. To be on the safe side, you can make a twist where the third stitch is, so that the thread wraps around one stitch and locks in securely.

Sometimes, using this method, the darker threads turn back over the lighter colored embroidery fabric to show through. If this is the case, it is best not to use this method. Sometimes the back of the embroidery cloth stitch direction is vertical, then change to another method. As shown below. You can pass between the threads or make some circles. Starting a new section of thread in this way makes the back of the embroidery look very neat. Folding the loop around the thread Generally this method is used for an even number of threads. For example, for two strands of thread, take one strand of any length, fold it in half, put the folded side through the needle hole, and pull it through until the broken side is near the hole and the folded side is away from the needle. Begin to embroider the first stitch upward, with the folded side first drooping loosely behind the cloth. Then insert the needle down the front of the embroidered cloth and pass it through the center of the folded threads, after carefully pulling the threads neatly and smoothing the cloth. Some people accustomed to this method are even able to cope with embroidery threads that are not of even numbered strands.

One Jim Cripwell.... One person describes it as follows: Take a length of embroidery floss twice as long as the desired floss and fold it in half. Take another length of thread of the desired length and place one side of it with the folded side of the long thread but longer than the folded thread, so that on the side near the needle hole (i.e., the side of the long thread with the two threads), this short thread will appear shorter. As with the coil winding method, pull the three strands of thread together through the coil. Loosen the needle from the thread while you thread that short piece of thread on the side near the coil, passing it under the other strands but not cutting it off. Carefully pull on the short thread until that side is buried in the thread. Then rethread the three strands and you can begin embroidering normally. The "waste knot" without a knot. Start the needle from the top of the embroidery fabric. Two centimeters to five centimeters away from the desired embroidery position, drop the needle, leaving a tail of thread. By leaving a tail on the top of the cloth, a thread can be pulled out behind the cloth, and the path of this thread is the direction in which you will be embroidering, meaning that your subsequent stitches will hold this cut of thread underneath. After a few stitches, you can pull the tail of thread from the cloth to the back of the cloth. You can make up a few more stitches of the first method if necessary. This method is similar to the "waste knot without a knot" described above, except that the tail of the thread left on the fabric is knotted.

The knot in the fabric can be used as a small marker during the embroidery process. Later this knot can be cut away. The "waste knot" method is similar to the "waste knot" method described above, except that the tail of the knotted thread left on the fabric is placed farther away from the desired area so that it does not interfere with the other threads embroidered in the vicinity. The same knot will be cut later.

Embroidery cross (i.e., X) Cross stitch rules have a very basic and important, that is, all small squares of the two cross threads must be the same direction, that is, in a square no matter whether it is "/" pressed on " " or "" is pressed on the "/", it must be so in all squares. The only exception is the special stitch 3/4. The traditional method is to complete the X's in one grid before embroidering the next one. Another method, called the "Danish Technique", is to have a half stitch in one direction and then come back with the other half. Most people use both methods. The Danish technique can be used when there are many connected areas of a certain thread on the drawing, while the sparsely separated areas are suitable for the traditional technique. Another, more formal method is to use the Danish technique when embroidering horizontal rows and the traditional embroidery method when embroidering vertical rows. This way the threads on the back of the embroidery still maintain a vertical orientation. We know that some of the oldest and best preserved cross-stitch pieces are mostly embroidered using the traditional technique because finishing one X at a time before moving on to the next keeps the embroidery fabric compact and the threads less likely to come loose. Especially when embroidered with one strand of thread, the traditional embroidery method can make the work look even more perfect than using two strands of thread.