Blog
Latest news, tutorials, and updates from the team
Cross Stitch Fabric Count Explained (and How It Changes Finished Size)
Fabric count is the number that decides how big and how detailed your finished cross stitch will be. This guide explains what 11, 14, 16 and 18 count mean, how to work out the finished size of any pattern, and how count changes the look and feel of your stitching.
Aida, Evenweave or Linen? Choosing Your Cross Stitch Fabric
The fabric you stitch on changes how your project looks and how easy it is to work. This guide compares the three main cross stitch fabrics, Aida, evenweave and linen, explains how they differ, and helps you pick the right one for your skill level and design.
How to Grid Your Fabric for Large Patterns
On a big project, a single miscount early on can throw out everything that follows. Gridding your fabric into ten-by-ten squares that match the chart keeps you accurate from the first stitch to the last. This guide covers why gridding helps and the main methods, from washable pens to gridding thread.
How to Fix Common Cross Stitch Mistakes (and Frog Gracefully)
Every stitcher makes mistakes, from a miscount to a wrong colour. This guide covers the most common cross stitch errors, how to unpick stitches without damaging your fabric, when a mistake is worth fixing and when to let it go, plus how to avoid them next time.
Starting and Finishing Threads Without Knots
Knots make the back of your work lumpy and can pop through to the front. This guide covers the neat, knot-free ways to start and finish a thread in cross stitch, including the loop method, the away waste knot and weaving in, so both sides of your work look tidy.
Fractional Stitches Explained: Half, Quarter and Three-Quarter
Full cross stitches are square, but real designs have curves. Fractional stitches, half, quarter and three-quarter, are how patterns soften edges and add detail. This guide explains what each one is, how to read it on a chart and how to stitch it.
What Is Backstitch, and How to Stitch It Neatly
Backstitch is the outline that turns a soft block of colour into a crisp, finished design. This guide explains what backstitch is, how to read it on a chart, how to work it neatly around corners and curves, and the common mistakes to avoid.
How to Read a Cross Stitch Pattern: Symbols, Colours and Grids
A cross stitch pattern can look like a wall of tiny symbols at first glance. This guide breaks down every part of a chart, the grid, the colour key, whole and fractional stitches, backstitch and where to begin, so you can pick up any pattern and start stitching with confidence.
How to Start Cross-Stitching: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know to start cross-stitching, from choosing your first supplies to making your first stitches. A practical guide for complete beginners.