Cross Stitch & Embroidery

Everything for cross stitch and embroidery, in one place

Needlework needs less kit than most crafts, but the bits it does need have to work together: the right fabric count for the chart, enough thread to finish, a hoop that holds tension, and a needle with the correct eye. This department brings all of it together, from stranded cottons in hundreds of shades to aida and evenweave by the piece, hoops and frames, needles, scissors, charts to download, and complete kits with the lot in one box.

Kits or build your own project

A kit is the simplest way in and the safest gift. Fabric, threads, needle and chart arrive together, pre-counted, so nothing runs short halfway through a border. It also removes the two decisions beginners find hardest, which are fabric count and thread quantity. Building a project yourself takes over once you can read a chart with confidence: you choose the fabric colour, decide the finished size, swap a shade you dislike, and often work out cheaper on a large design. Both routes are here, with cross stitch kits and embroidery kits sitting alongside the raw materials.

Fabric, count and finished size

• 14 count aida is the usual starting point: 14 stitches to the inch, clear holes, forgiving on the eyes.
• 16 and 18 count aida for finer detail and a smaller finished piece from the same chart.
• Evenweave and linen, usually stitched over two threads, for fractional stitches, backstitch detail and a softer drape.
• Waste canvas or soluble stabiliser when you want to cross stitch onto a jumper or a tote.

To work out finished size, divide the chart's stitch count by the fabric count. A 140 by 98 stitch design on 14 count comes out at 10 by 7 inches; on 18 count the same chart shrinks to under 8 by 5.5. Add at least 7cm of spare fabric on every side for framing and hoop room.

Thread, needles and stitches

Stranded cotton comes as six strands loosely twisted together. You almost always separate them: two strands over one block of 14 count aida, one strand on 18 count or for fine backstitch, three for a bolder look on 11 count. Separating and recombining, rather than pulling two strands straight off, makes the stitches lie flatter. Use a blunt tapestry needle for counted work so you go through the holes rather than the fabric, and a sharp embroidery or crewel needle for surface embroidery on plain cotton or linen. Beyond cross stitch itself, surface embroidery opens up back stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, French knots, lazy daisy and long and short shading, and a sampler is still the most efficient way to learn a dozen of them in one evening.

Working comfortably

Good light matters more than good eyesight. Sit near a window or use a daylight lamp, keep the hoop or frame drum-tight, and take your work out of the hoop between sessions so it does not mark. Start threads with a loop start or a few tiny holding stitches on the back rather than a knot, which shows as a bump once framed. Grid the fabric lightly in soluble pen if you are prone to miscounting; on a large design it saves hours of unpicking.

Finishing your piece

When the last stitch is in, wash the work gently in cool water with a little mild soap to remove marker lines and handling grime, roll it in a towel, then press face down on a soft surface so the stitches are not flattened. Mount it in a hoop with the excess gathered and laced at the back, lace it over acid-free board for a frame, or make it up into a cushion, bookmark or hanging. Embroidered clothing should be turned inside out and washed cool.

Questions stitchers ask

Does LoveCrafts sell cross stitch kits? Yes, complete kits sit alongside threads, fabric, hoops and downloadable charts, so you can buy a whole project or top up a single skein.

What is the difference between cross stitch and embroidery? Cross stitch is counted work on an even-weave grid, following a chart square by square. Embroidery is free surface stitching onto a drawn or printed design, using many different stitches.

How many strands should I use? Two over one block of 14 count aida is the default; drop to one for backstitch outlining and fine detail.

How do I stop my thread twisting? Let the needle dangle every few stitches so the thread unwinds, and use shorter lengths of about 45cm.