The Make Arcade Keep Going - Downloadable PDF

The Make Arcade Keep Going - Cross Stitch Pattern

What is Being Made

This is a fun and affirmative cross stitch design created by The Make Arcade, specifically designed to motivate and cheer. The "Keep Going" pattern is an encouraging embroidery project perfect for beginners looking to create a meaningful piece of needlework that can brighten a space or lift someone's spirits.

Craft and Technique

This project uses cross stitch embroidery, one of the most accessible and popular embroidery techniques for beginners. Cross stitch involves creating X-shaped stitches on counted fabric to build a design from a charted pattern. The technique is straightforward: each coloured square on the chart represents one individual cross stitch to be completed on the fabric. The pattern includes a central point marked by two crossing lines on the chart, which helps you locate the centre of your aida fabric and begin stitching from the middle outward.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch used throughout this pattern is the cross stitch. This fundamental embroidery stitch creates the distinctive X shape that forms the basis of the entire design. By counting the colour blocks on the pattern and replicating the same number of cross stitches on your aida fabric in the corresponding colours, the design gradually emerges as you progress through the project.

Materials Required

• Fabric: Aida fabric (counted cross stitch fabric) positioned in an embroidery hoop to keep it taut and centered
• Thread: Embroidery floss in the following colours: Black, White, Teal, Green 959, Orange 947, Pink 603, Mustard 783, Turquoise 3846, and Purple 209. The pattern notes that these colour suggestions are flexible, and you can substitute with whatever colours you prefer
• Tools: Embroidery hoop, cross stitch needle, and the downloadable PDF pattern chart

Pattern Overview

This downloadable PDF pattern from The Make Arcade is an exclusive design for Love Crafts and is rated as a beginner-friendly project. The pattern is presented as a colour chart where each square corresponds to one cross stitch. The straightforward counting method makes it ideal for those new to embroidery, as you simply count the colour blocks on the chart and recreate the same stitches on your fabric. As you layer more colours and complete additional stitches, the affirmative design slowly takes shape until the project is complete.