How to cross stitch faster: the sewing method to cross stitch twice as fast 

Haha awesome, keep on stitching! :)

Same here! I never knew there were other methods

I have always been using this method. I have only very recently heard about the other methods. It is funny how people are doing the same outcome, a cross stitch, with different methods.

Me too. Been stitching for almost 40 years and always have used this method.

same

You're very welcome Ann Marie, I'm glad you're finding the videos helpful! :)

Bahaha nope, there is no "wrong" way to do something, unless you get your needle too close to your eyes (don't do that)... 😂Congrats on your first finish!

Yep, all good tips! 🙂

Awesome, I'm so glad it helped you Mariel! 🙂

Haha that's neat, I've tried but couldn't do it as the hoop kept the fabric too taut -- I couldn't bend the fabric enough to get the needle through both sides (which is what most stitchers find). Maybe you have super powers Sami. :)

LOL nope I put the material I am using in , give it a slight tap and then tighten it up! I taught myself because I couldn't get out to be taught by anyone. I had broken my back and was stuck in bed for months and so I needed something to keep me busy! I guess at 13 you just want to do everything very fast and it hurt to go over and under the hoop so much. Not to mention I couldn't even sit up, so it was the only way I could do it! Maybe it is like doing it with out a hoop, but it keeps extra material out of your way! Loved the video though! I have just recently got a computer and figured out how to use it to get on and learn things! I love it!

That's great you're just figuring out how much you can learn on the computer, it's like a black hole, there are so many interesting topics. :) And yes, I can understand that at 13, patience isn't exactly most people's virtue. :)

That is the same with me. I have been cross stitching this way with a hoop for 30 plus years too. I just use a 6" hoop so I can hold on to it and then put some slack in the fabric and then cross stitch the same way. I was also self taught. (:

Ljulie selden lol

You're very welcome Donna! There is no right or wrong though, just whatever works best for you. 😊

Awesome, glad it helps Betsie! 🙂

Haha yes, you can use a hoop, you'll quickly figure out what the best tension is for you. And thanks, I like my nails, they are naturally really strong and grow fast, I'm lucky. 🙂

@@peacockandfig totally jealous of those nails! Very helpful method doing a huge piece too big for my largest floor stand so I'm going to try this one out.

You are so welcome! 😊

@@peacockandfig me too, after years of not cross stitching I learned the stab method. I was looking for patterns and came across your video, it’s mind blowing this way but I so want to try it so thank you, this might be my new way faste

You're very welcome Angella! 🙂

Good plan, happy stitching Lala! 😊

That's a good idea -- do the patterns according to how you stitch best. :) I've just started working on some Zweigart Aida, and it's lovely to work with. :)

Go for it, have fun with it Sarah! 🙂

Haha great, glad you enjoyed it! Happy stitching Jake! :)

Awesome, glad it helped! Just keep an eye on your tension, and you'll be good to go. 😊

You're very welcome Linda! 😊

Haha you're very welcome Ari! :)

Awesome, glad it helped Kristen! And you can always hold the rolled fabric back with those claw-style hair clips, they work great. 🙂

Hi Elsie, thanks for your comment! I stitch bottom to top because my hand is below the row I'm working on -- if I was to stitch top to bottom (I'm assuming you mean going into the fabric with the needle from the top of the X and come out the bottom), my arm would be all twisted up. To me there is no "normal" way to learn to stitch, it's whatever you're comfortable with. 🙂

I was just curious :) It's neat to learn other people's methods I think.

Haha no worries! :) Plus I have a neck injury, if I was to stitch all twisted up I'd last about 5 minutes before I'd have to stop. That would be no fun at all. :)

Haha awesome, thanks Anne! :D

Awesome, your granny is clearly a smart lady. 😊

The back actually doesn't matter at all Joyce, I purposely rarely show the back as I don't want people to judge how their backs look against someone else. I do show them in this tutorial, and explain why the back doesn't matter most of the time -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-drlidSeMBmU.html 🙂

Thanks, I do realize that the back isn't as important as the front, but I'm just curious because it can help me judge if I am doing the technique correctly🤔 And sometimes, like on a baby's bib, the back is on display 😳

By the way, the videos are most helpful! Especially zoomed in views! Thank you

Glad it was helpful Jessy! :)

Hi Maricor! I can't teach you for a specific pattern, I don't have it and they're all worked exactly the same way. However you started the table, that's how you'd do the whole piece. Just keep going, you'll be fine, but you did choose a difficult project if you're new to cross stitch. You could always switch to a simpler one to get more confidence stitching, then go back to the big one. 🙂

@@peacockandfig ok.. tank you maam.. My friend give it to me so She just ask me to do it and ..but i will try to kake it.. ill keep warching your vedios so i can get it..

Haha glad to help, but cross stitch is meant to be relaxing, not have deadlines. 😊

@@peacockandfig lmao

Hi there Rama, sorry for the delay replying! I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean by "picture," there are literally thousands of softwares that can create images (photos, art you draw yourself, etc). If you mean create a cross stitch pattern, look in my playlists, I have some old videos about MacStitch/WinStitch that can be used to create a pattern from your own art or own photograph. But just know that you can't just take a picture you find online and make a pattern from it which some people think they can do, it's illegal, you can only create patterns from your own art or your own photographs (or art or photos you've purchased the license to). 😊

Don't worry about the back or how much floss is used -- even if you pay $1 per skein, it literally works out to two cents per single strand metre, floss is very inexpensive. And how the back looks isn't important, as long as it's not a massive rats nest of knots and tangles (as that can make the front look lumpy), how the stitches lie across the back doesn't matter in the slightest. I even have a video about the back and not to worry about it, just stitch in a way that you enjoy and works for you. If that's "Grandma Moses" style (which sounds awesome), keep going like that Jill. 😊

{{{{sigh}}}} A big thank you 🙏🏻 for answering my question so quickly and perfectly! I feel the “whipstitch” (diagonal) stitching that I was doing is most enjoyable for me, even though it does seem to raise the stitching up a bit, as long as I’m consistent it won’t matter. Now, I also have found that if I turn the fabric sideways, the method you’re showing in this video works quite well for me too. It will be nice to do both methods on different projects and find the one I like best. 😎 Happy Stitching!

You totally can, but I never have. If your floss is tangling or fraying, it either means it's bad quality floss (like from Amazon, China, etc), or your strands are too long. I never have strands longer than the length from the tip of my fingers to my elbow. The floss is still going through the same amount of holes per strand, it's just you're doing it faster. 😊

@@peacockandfig Awesome. I'm totally gonna try this. Thanks so much!

Technically yes, you can do it with a hoop or a Q-snap if you loosen the tension, but it's often actually easier in hand (then you're not holding a hoop or frame in your hand, I always found Q-snaps to be so bulky and heavy to hold). The point of the hoop or frame is to hold the tension across the fabric, so if you're going to loosen it to stitch like this, then you might as well not use the hoop/frame. 😊

Haha you're very welcome Penny, I'm glad you found it helpful! :)

Of course, what I'm basically showing is a tent stitch, a half cross stitch. 😊

I mix and match how I actually stitch Lori, so I have no idea, I don't look at the back. How the back looks is not important at all, I have a whole tutorial in my channel just on that. 😊

Haha hi Katie, thanks for your comment! Yes you do need to watch your tension with this method, so it's possible you're not pulling them tight enough. What could be happening too is you're pulling a little too tight, so the fabric is actually getting marginally "squished", making the stitch bulge up a little. Try pulling on your fabric with both hands after a few stitches from a few different directions and see if that helps flatten your stitches. Each fabric will "behave" differently depending on how pliable it is, so sometimes it just takes a bit of experimentation to get the stitches looking exactly how you want. You may find you need to stitch a little more tightly than you would with the stab method, or a little more loosely. Once the piece is stitched too and it's damp from washing, you can gently stretch it in your hands and then iron it from the back. That will help the fabric lie flat and the stitches should look a lot more even. As long as your fabric isn't seriously being buckled as you're stitching and the stitches look decent, any minor "issues" should literally come out in the wash at the end. :) Does that help?

Yes, but only for stitches like running stitch, straight stitch, satin stitch.... it's pretty limited in hand embroidery as so many stitches are formed in completely different ways. 🙂

Hi Sheryl! That's totally up to you, and it depends on the kit manufacturer and how much extra floss they included. Some stitchers say you shouldn't carry across the back more than a few stitches, but I often carry my threads way further than that (but I don't use kits). I'd just see if you're going to use more thread by making two knots, or by carrying the thread across the back, and make your decision from there. 🙂

Awesome, glad you've enjoyed this technique for your stitchy journey Donna! 🙂

Hi Cheryl, I'm glad the tutorial helped! I have zero ideas what judges want --- I've never entered a competition and never will, my designs aren't exactly family friendly sometimes.... 😂 I've heard it depends on the competition and what their criteria are. 🙂

Hi Andrea! I have a video showing the differences between cross country stitching and the parking method, that might help you out. :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qxsKJEOixbU.html

Thank you

Welcome! 🙂

You're very welcome 😊

Haha well nuts isn't always a bad thing, it's what you do with your insanity that counts... 😂 Glad the tutorial helped, happy stitching! 🙂

Sorry Tamara, it's actually really difficult to film and look at what you're doing, this was filmed several years ago so there's nothing I can do to edit the video now. Hope it was still helpful! 😊

Hi there! I never noticed I did that, I'm assuming it was just working around the camera and trying to keep my hands out of the way enough to have the stitches be visible. It totally doesn't matter which way you go, as long as you're consistent across the whole project. Now I pretty much always have the top stitch being upper left to lower right. 🙂

Hi - I wrote it wrong and just corrected. My top stitch is always lower right to top left too, at least this is how I learned - not sure if my mind can change jajaja. I thought maybe you did it different just to show both options. Just wasn't sure if you alternate on different projects. I enjoy your videos!! Just found them yesterday :-). THANK YOU!!

Haha you're very welcome! And there is no right or wrong way, just whatever works best for you. 🙂

Ahaha yeah, it's always fun when friends are helpful like that eh! :) There are two ways you could figure out the floss colour numbers (assuming you know what brand floss it is). One way would be to take your bobbins to a shop that sells the same brand of floss (like a needlework or craft shop), and literally compare them to the floss on display. It will take some time, and the staff may be able to help, but then you can compare the exact colours (and write the colours onto the plastic part of the bobbin with a Sharpie). Or, if the floss is DMC, you can actually get a floss colour card that has real floss on it (not a printed version). So if you were able to get one of those cards, you could again compare the colours of your bobbins to the samples in the floss card. If you don't know the brand, your best bet is to compare them to DMC floss in a shop (as that's the most common floss, depending on where you are), and write down the numbers that seem as close as possible to your colours. They won't be perfect (especially if you're following a pattern that's using specific colour numbers), but it will get you by until you start running out of floss and need to go buy more. Does that help? :)

Peacock & Fig yes! thank you

Haha perfect, good luck! :)

sorry another question, my aunt passed away and left me her floss collection (im drowning in floss lately) most are marked with DMC but some of them have GiStar or G Star on them, any idea what that could mean?

killua-chan Awwww I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. I'm not sure about that brand, I've never heard of it. I'd just keep it to the side and use it for projects where you just need a little of one colour, or you can make up your own colours. :)

Hi Ximena! Have you seen the video on fractionals? Here it is, that at least will help you with the stitches -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WP67V7KyiJ4.html. As for blending, I can do a video (it might be a while, I have a few others in the works first), but basically all you do is combine strands of your different colours. So let's say you need to combine DMC 310 and DMC 645. The pattern should tell you how many strands of each, but usually it would be one strand of 310 and one strand of 645. You'd cut your floss to the same length, take one strand of each, and use them as one strand (the same as if you were using 2 strands of the same colour). You won't be able to use the loop method to start like that, but you can use a pin stitch or a small knot. I always keep a separate bobbin for my blended threads too, that way if I have leftovers I can go back to that blend later without confusion. :) Does that help for now?

Peacock & Fig thank you

You're very welcome! :)

Hi Ximena! Just to let you know I did a tutorial about how to blend your threads together! Here's the link -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C03vbzjn2xM.html :)

Hi Doris, thanks for your question! I'm sorry I can't help -- I don't ever use beads in my patterns, so I'm not sure. Usually if you buy a pattern that needs beads, it will tell you the recommended beads to use (like I know Shannon Christine sells the bead packs that go with her beautiful patterns). You could always just get some you like and see how they look on the fabric too, then you get to play and experiment. :)

:)

Hi Christina! Your top and bottom stitch always goes the same way (so light reflects evenly off the stitches). It doesn't matter which way they go, as long as they're all the same. :)

:)

I'm not sure I understand, you're asking in Russian if the tutorial is in English, or it "needs to be in English"? I speak several languages, English is the one I'm most fluent in, and I don't speak any Russian, so sorry if that doesn't answer your question. 😊

Hi Judith, thanks for your feedback! I'm terrible at left and right (I swear I missed that day in kindergarten), so that wouldn't actually have been any help to anyone as I would have screwed it up constantly. Ironically I can do left and right in other languages no problems, but in English my brain gets stuck even though it's my native language. 😂 Also, my camera is fixed on a holder, but it has to be so close to me to see the stitching that it's easy to bump. Sorry you didn't like it, I hope you got the idea of the technique though as it's so handy! 🙂

Not really, I'm using 14 count fabric which is the most commonly used size of Aida fabric. 😊

Bahahaha what would be your preferred method of communicating information on a free tutorial then, finger puppets? Maybe sign language? 😂 No need to be rude on a tutorial that was provided completely for free, just be an adult and go to another channel. The tutorial is years old anyway, what exactly would you like me to do about it now... Sorry you took offense to me trying to give you as much information as I could.

You are so welcome! 😊

Bahahahah your comment is hilarious Amanda 😂 And yeah, it's a super useful technique, just be aware your stitches may lie a little differently than they do if you use the "stab" method. But honestly, anyone getting that close to your stitching to see that should get smacked away anyway, it's like a friend getting really close to your face to inspect your makeup.... 😂😂😂

Ahahah that sounds like a good plan! Just be careful of your tension so it doesn't get all warped, but have fun!! :) Dana

I am 11 too!

Olga's beauty ! Rt555/

Olga's beauty, I started stitching when I was your age. It's a great way to learn the soothing nature of repetitive work and helps you have patience in life. Stick with it!

Yep, whatever works best for you 😊

You're very welcome Alyssa! 🙂

Yeah however you work is fine, as long as you're happy with it and it works for you. 😊

Great tip Lesley! 🙂

Hopefully replaying it helps Bernice, it's actually surprisingly difficult to film something so close to the camera and still see what you're doing. ❤️ It's literally the same thing over and over, so hopefully you can get the idea. 😊

Yep whatever works best for you, there are lots of variations on how you can work and travel across the pattern. Happy stitching! 😊

You can, but it's a different technique to cross stitch onto fabric like a denim jacket. Basically you use "waste canvas," it's a heavier duty stitching fabric that's more like a grid, and you tack it to your base fabric like the denim. Then you do your cross stitch over the canvas, making sure to not catch the canvas threads in your stitches. When you're done, you usually wet the whole piece (make sure the floss you're using is good quality and the colours won't run), and carefully pull the canvas threads out one at a time. Then the stitching is left behind, sitting on the main fabric. The reason you'd use waste canvas is otherwise your cross stitches will end up all sorts of wonky, they'll be out of square and start to "slide" in their form. So your stitching design would end up warped and misshapen, and the stitches won't look nice. The waste canvas gives you the grid to work on, so your stitches are an even size and shape. I think there's waste canvas that's water soluble as well, aka you can rinse it away when you're done. I'm sure there are plenty of tutorials about using waste canvas on RU-vid, I don't have any myself. Otherwise yes, there are so many other embroidery stitches that can be used on fabrics, some common ones for patches are satin stitch, French knots, running stitch, chain stitch, etc. I have tutorials for all of those on this channel and my website too, including some free practice patterns for those who sign up to my email list. 😊

@@peacockandfig oh wow. Mind blown. Open up a whole new realm of possibilities thanks for the info and tutorial.

That's ok, you'll get there, and you'll likely find you'll do a mix of stitch methods depending on the pattern, how much of one colour you're using, etc. 😊

Just watch it as many times as you need, I'd explain it exactly the same way even if I filmed it again. 😊

Ok thanks for that

how to do cross stitcs rainbow art ?? please send the video...

That's called the English method, doing one stitch at a time, the Danish method is what I'm showing in this tutorial (doing half one way then coming back to finish). I have a tutorial in my channel about that too, and when it's good to use either. The advantage of your stitches all going the same direction is the colours look more even, the light hits the floss the same way. Like you know if you rub velvet, the colour changes where you rubbed it against the grain? That's exactly what happens when your stitches are lying in different directions, the light actually can subtly break up how the colour is reflected, meaning the project actually will look a bit different than it was designed to appear (particularly in projects with a lot of colours, the nuance and shading of certain tones can be lost). Of course stitch how you want, but there is a reason why it's good to stitch with your stitches all going one direction, unless you're doing it to create texture and break up big blocks of colour. 🙂

It's a handy technique, eh Evren! 😊

Glad you enjoyed it Paris-Renee! You're right, this method makes it super easy to travel around your piece without a hoop. 🙂

that’s called confetti stitches, and you don’t. You’d stitch one stitch at a time, this method is for blocks of colour. 😊

Hi Judy, I can't easily help beyond the tutorial unfortunately. You just move your needle to over however many stitches you need to and start again, like go down for your last stitch, move your needle to wherever the next one is starting, then come up from the back and keep going with the sewing method until you have to stop again to move the needle to the next section. Hope that helps 😊

Thank you. your videos are great

Awesome, so glad it's helpful for you Chelsea! :)

Glad it was helpful, and thanks for subscribing Violetta! 😊

Your welcome 🤗

You're very welcome Kat, I'm glad it helped! 🙂

khane.wala.maitaka.wali. dejain.bana.kr.bataiyea.

There is no "wrong" direction, you can stitch in any order going from any direction you like. As long as the top thread is always laying the same way (and you can even switch that up to create texture if you want), then how you actually do the stitch doesn't matter. 🙂

Happy stitching 😊

Well there you go, you learn something new each day. 😊❤️

Hi Yani, unfortunately to zoom in it means it looks like I'm moving a lot more than I am. Just try watching again and pausing it when you need to, sorry about the movement. 🙂

It's magical, eh Mary! 😊

You're so welcome Madison! 😊

Most welcome Minakshi! 😊

Just watch it as many times as you want Angela (or slow down the video), the motion is exactly the same no matter how many stitches you're doing. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

I have several videos of stitching on linen (2 over 2 and 1 over 1), just not with this method. It's no different than using Aida like I show in this video, you're just doing it under two threads instead of one. I can't get the camera close enough to the fabric and have it be in focus to demonstrate the sewing method on linen or smaller weave fabric and have you see the details adequately. 😊

@@peacockandfig thanks so much for your reply. I have recently returned to cross stitching after a 30 year hiatus. I so want to do something on the beautiful linen type fabrics that are available these day. Back in the day I only stitched on Aida. I will get some samples and give it a try.

Hi Angelique! Yes, it's 2 strands on 14 count. What you have to think about too is that you're not going to view a finished project super close up (like as close as you are when stitching). So even if you think the coverage isn't great with 2 strands on 14 count, it's actually ideal, as you're not putting too much floss into each "corner" of the stitches (making it harder to pull through the next one), and you can still see the X of the stitch, which is where the beauty and texture of the stitch lies. If you use 3, you start getting little lumps of floss, which isn't nearly as pretty as seeing a beautiful string of perfect X's. Just put your project against a wall and step back about 6 feet -- I guarantee it will look perfect. 🙂

Yes, but then you don't really need the hoop or frame, you can just stitch in hand. :)

Peacock & Figm

Have fun! 🙂

You're very welcome! 😊

In theory it is, but beginners will have issues with their tension if you're not using a hoop, meaning your project may buckle if you're not really careful about that. 🙂

Hope it helps! ☺️

Hi Alessandre! I'm not sure what you mean -- each X shares the holes of the X next to it. So yes, they're always directly next to each other. Otherwise you'd end up with gaps in your stitching and being able to see the fabric, and most patterns don't use evenly spaced gaps (unless it's like a geometric band or something where there are regular gaps between the stitches and the fabric shows through). Does that help? 🙂

You're very welcome! 🙂

Hahaha that's awesome you uploaded a video! I had a look, and likely what's happening is you're pulling them out too fast, so they are getting all twisted and tangled. There are a couple of things I can suggest. One is to just pull one strand out at a time, and then pair them back up. If you pull each strand out very carefully and slowly (and keep the rest of the strands from bunching up), then you'll be able to get the strands out without too many issues. Another thing you can do is just pull one strand out and double it, using the loop method to start. Here's a video how to do that if you like, it's such an easy way to start without using knots -- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9gEgFaJyOF4.html. You also might be using strands that are too long (more opportunity for tangles). So you could also try using shorter strands and see if that helps. Let me know how it goes for you Louise! :)

Peacock & Fig thankyou so much for the advice.. I'll definitely try it later. especially the single thread loop :)

Haha you're very welcome Louise! Happy stitching! :)

It's a lovely craft isn't it 😊

@@peacockandfig yes it is

Glad you enjoyed it Monny! 😊

Haha I know right, it's fun learning there are names for techniques. Like I naturally just meander around a pattern, turns out that's called cross country stitching. 🙂

Bahahah no. I'm trying to give you as much info as I have to help you. If you don't like that, maybe a hobby that requires patience isn't for you, just a thought... 😉

Sorry, I don't speak Arabic. 🙂

@@peacockandfig😘

Hi Abbey! Get better lighting (even a headlamp will work), that's all you can really do. 🙂

Hi Esias! It depends, it depends on how you travel across your pattern as obviously most patterns don't have gigantic blocks of one colour. It is neat on the back, but it does depend on how many times you're switching colours, where your stitches are in the pattern, etc. But honestly, don't worry about the back, I have a whole tutorial on that. No one ever looks at it, and the whole "your back has to be neat" is a myth from the Victorian era. Do check that video out if you like, I show some examples of my own work and that of other stitchers. 🙂

@@peacockandfig 👌😀

Good luck with your test, and happy stitching! 🙂