Learn How: Cross Stitching 101 - Getting Started 

Well I'm a 28 year old man now. I used to love doing this at school as a child. One day I brought it home, I showed my Dad and he yelled at me saying this was for Women! Today I went ahead and bought a kit from Amazon and I've checked out your video :) thank you for this video, I'm excited to make up for lost time!

I've been trying to understand cross stitching for years but people's tutorials would skip over simple things that you explained and it would leave me frustrsted. You are a great teacher and are very straightforward. Thank you so much.

I bought a cross stitch kit today thinking it would be a no brainer but I opened it and I was sooo confusing and the instructions were so vague😅 this is so so helpful thank you

I’m glad to see I’m not the only man who cross stitches. My mom made me learn when I was a kid to help with my fine motor skills and I just kept it up

I have been cross stitching for 37 years. My favorite saying is "You learn something new every day!" and I have done just that. Threading the needle the way you did and knotting it with the loop is genius!!! I am teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders how to stitch at school (a small group where we share/teach something special to us) and I am totally going to teach them this. Permission to use your video with them?

I have a cross-stitch kit sitting here looking at me.. it is saying; "stop being a scaredy cat, just grab the needle and thread and jump right in." But I didn't want to do a half-ass job of it so I've been watching videos. Yours was so helpful in threading the needle without a knot at the end and the tip on jumping up to the next row. Great little video. I just bought my first cross-stitch kit and hope I don't mess it up. Thanks, Phil

Phil, like you, I've cross stitched for many years. I even went to seminars and took classes. Those classes taught me a couple of tips I'd like to pass on to you. First tip is how to separate the strands of floss. You showed tapping one end of the six-strand hank, but you should also show what happens when the tap the other end. The correct end to pull from will be the one that causes all six strands to fly apart when you tap the end. The reason it's the correct end is because all the barely visible "fly-away" strands on each thread is facing downward--when you pull one or two strands from the hank, they will release without tangling. Second tip--Once you get the number of strands pulled that you want, slide them through a medium that will further smooth those fly-away pieces so they don't tangle while you're stitching--you want to slide them in that "smoothest" direction. Best way is to pull them through a cube of bee's wax, next option is across a damp sponge, or my favorite because I've always got it on hand, is to slide it across my tongue. Third tip: Do not, NOT catch the loop of your thread in the eye of the needle! Instead, if your pattern calls for two strands, just use one like you did in your video. Just like in your video, fold that single strand in the middle (forming a loop in the middle). Just thread the needle using either the loop through the eye or the two ends through the eye, it doesn't matter. Do NOT knot the ends either. Instead, just like in your video, bring your needle up in the bottom left corner and go down in the top right corner, pulling the thread downward about 2". Now turn your work over and put your needle through the loop and gently pull it the rest of the way through--not too tight so it doesn't pucker. By doing it this way, you have automatically locked that very first stitch, you won't have any "tails", you don't have any loose ends to deal hide. Last tip: The reason for starting in the center of your work and then working outward is that the stitching will stretch the fabric--by starting at the center, your work will stretch the fabric outward and remain smooth. If you start from the outer edges and work inward, your fabric might "bubble up" or warp. Good luck everyone!

I showed my 87year old mom who has been cross stitching for 50+years your video about threading the needle and creating a knot at the end, she asked me to give you a huge "thanks" She is now using this technique and it's not just easier for her to thread her needle but she is no longer losing it.

You have such a soothing voice. This video reminds me a lot of Bob Ross. :)

I've seen a lot of 'beginner' cross stitch videos and always left none the wiser. This is honestly the best one I've ever seen. Thorough yet simple to follow. Thank you!

Phil, I just happened upon your video even though I already know how to cross-stitch. How refreshing to hear a male voice instruct a video in a traditionally female textile art! Kudos to you! You have a very soothing voice. Keep up the great work! Btw, your method for threading is interesting. I have never done it that way out of concern for the nap of the floss. ❤

You had me at “Gryffindor”

Thank goodness for your video! Every video I have came across skips the threading process and skips the turning, etc!! Thank you so much for your patience and time you take with your videos!

I wikihow’d cross stitching and didn’t understand it. Bought a kit from wal mart because a friend swore it was really easy. The instructions made me cry. You cleared up so much and it makes so much sense now! Thank you for taking the time to make this starter video. Subscribing right now :)

“Please tell me the next tutorial is up...” “Three years ago” “Oh lmao I’m fine”

I learned to cross stitch from my grandmother when I was young but had forgotten the basics. She is no longer with us 😔 so I need help getting started again. Thank you for post. Trying to keep my hands busy. ❤️

I've been cross stitching for about a year now, and I started all of it by watching this video!! I just came across it again while watching some other stitchery videos and it warmed my heart to see it again. Thanks for your help getting me into one of my favorite hobbies, Phil!

Great video. I’ve been cross-stitching over 35 years. So fulfilling to watch pictures come to life!! (I normally work vertically)

Best cross stitch teacher ever! Thank you! Props to your Mom for doing a wonderful job with you. ❤ Much appreciated.

You have a gift for teaching. This is a very easy video to understand and no rambling on like so many other youtube tutorials. It's been 20+ years since I cross stitched and I was looking for a refresher to get me acquainted with the process again. Thank you.

For a while I've been trying to find a cross stitch beginners video to REALLY SHOW me how to do this. Yours is the first one that I TRULY understand. I've gone through hundreds and this one is the best. ITS CLEAR, IT'S VISUALLY EASY TO UNDERSTAND (Because I do better with visuals) and I'm super excited to get started in the cross stitch world! Thank you!!1

Just wanted to pop in and say ur video was the first that really made crossstitch make sense to me! I actually can see my first comment on this video was from 2 months ago and it's so cool how far I have come in this hobby thanks to you! I think there's something so cool about the fact that your mom taught you and now years later you're online teaching tons of people your skills!

First off, thanks so much for this video! I've gone through a handful of how to begin cross stitching and most of the people forget to mention the little stuff like threading the needle with a loop/knot thing and how to even do that before jumping in to some random point without explanation of why. You've explained the beginning steps exceptionally well (at least for me who has only done, like, five cross stitches) and I'm really glad I ran across your video!! I hope to see more steps soon! :D

Wow, I have been procrastinating for about 6months, because the instructions were either nonexistent or so confusing, that I didn’t start for fear of failing. You have given me the confidence to start. Can’t wait for your next video, subscribed and liked, my granddaughter and I are starting together in the morning. Thanks again, very excited. Maz

This video is amazing! I recently joined the cross stitch community on Reddit, and realised I could do patterns that I actually liked, and then had to problem of, 'ok, I have the stuff, how do I do it!?' You my friend are a gem!

Knotting the needle is the best thing I've ever seen! Thank you!

You have explained some really basic bits that everyone glossed over or assumed we already know. Can't thank you enough. From a UK sofa x

Thank you! I used to cross stitch around 6-7 but that was over 20 years ago now and I wanted to get back into it and completely forgot the basics. Its great to have it refreshed in my mind before I get in over my head.

I haven't cross-stitched for years and am just about to begin a project for our new granddaughter. This was a great refresher, Phil. Thanks for the clear, well instructed video. :)

I would like you to know that your tutorial was the first cross stitch video I ever watched back during the beginning of quarantine, and it has created a love for stitching. I now have 2 Heaven and Earth Designs projects started and 3 charts to be kitted, plus I did a few smaller projects when I first started. I’m collecting needle minders, I bought a tablet specifically for stitching, and a whole section of my room is dedicated to my floss and fabric collection. I’ve done some partial coverage and some full coverage pieces, used half stitches and full stitches, and I’ve even done some back stitching. So thank you! Stitching has helped me with my anxiety through COVID time.

Thank you! You take the trepidation out of cross stitching. Such a calm soothing voice.

The threading trick? Chef’s kiss! I’ve been cross stitching since I was a kid (self-taught, so it’s always a mess) decided to go back to basics and this made my day! LOVE IT! 😍

You couldn’t have made this tutorial more clear and easy to understand. Thank you so much. Looking forward to my cross stitching journey.

Thank you so much for this! I learned how to cross-stitch as a child but haven't done it in years, so when I decided to pick it up again, details were a bit fuzzy. You made it so clear and I am now super excited to get back to it. Thank you so much!

Love how this video has made things clearer and easier to grasp. The needle threading and folding of the strand is ingenious, thank you so much, it’s made cross stitch more enjoyable for me x

It's been years since I've cross stitched. I needed a refresher. Your tips were GREAT! Can't wait to get my kits now! Looking forward to following your videos!

This is actually really helpful, I’ve never cross stitched before but now I know how to start. Thank you 😊

Thank you for this! I’ve wanted to learn to cross stitch for a long time. It just looks like such a relaxing hobby. For Christmas I received a Hobby Lobby giftcard and I got $50 worth of simple cross stitch kits to learn with. This is very helpful! Thanks again.

Thank you so much! I got a cross stitch today to make for a fathers day present for my dad and because of you, I think I'm actually going get it done before fathers day. Thank you for making this video!

I honestly need to give you a big thank you. I picked up a Star Wars family cross stitch kit over the holidays and the instructions were less than ideal for a beginner. You really saved my project from sitting on a shelf and gather dust.

This loop method you did is life changing for my cross stitch game. Thanks for the tip!!

I just bought my very first cross stitch kit and the instructions were not clear. Your tutorial is perfect for beginners like me, thank you so much for this video. ✌🏽

I bet this helps me a lot, so, thank you. My mom passed away a couple of months ago and she never got to make me this big cross-stitch picture which has an awesome Christmas spirit in it. It should've been a Xmas present for me 😢 so I made a promise beside her deathbed that I would finish it and it still would be done by her. God I miss her, she was the sweetest thing on this planet.

It's been quite a while since I've done any cross stitching so I decided to watch your video for a refresher. I learned so much! You blew my mind when you showed us how you thread your needle. I never would have thought to do it that way- I always had just tied my floss in a knot to the eye.

I’m 2 minutes into this video and it’s already helped me! I bought a cross stitch kit and put it straight back into the packet. It’s so confusing. Thank you so much for this video x

This was very helpful!! I’m going straight to your next video now. Thanks for posting this!

LOVE how you thread the needle! I’ve been cross-stitching for years and have never seen that. Thank you!!

The way you thread that needle blew my mind!! What a genius way to 1. Knot the thread (which I struggle with sometimes since the double knots make it bulky and hard to pull thru without stretching the fabric) and 2. Not waste so much thread!! I can’t wait to apply that technique to my work!

Just found your channel! I’m so excited to jump back into this. I used to know how to do it but I’m more than a touch rusty. Your voice is so soothing. I hope there is a whole series! I’m talking all the way up to advanced. I’d get this lady bug and do this with you. Also, you should strongly consider a career in voice over narration of audiobooks. I’m an avid listener and I suffer from Anxiety, especially at night. Your voice would sooth me right to sleep. Just a thought. Already a huge fan. Thanks so much 👏🏻

You are brilliant!!!! Love your tutorial! Thank you!

It was at the beginning of the pandemic that I took up cross stitching and it was THIS VIDEO that got me started! Sometimes as I'm stitching, I think back to your little ladybug project and the helpful tips you gave your viewers. "Thank you, thank you!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks for commenting back! Your videos gave me confidence that I could do cross stitch and I’m excited to say I’ve found a new hobby!! Thank you!

Best beginner video - thank you

Two years ago I watched this tutorial to learn how to stitch a simple design and now I’m stitching huge full coverage pieces.. thank you for this tutorial! Best one I found.

Wow! I'm a self taught stitcher and I never thought of weaving the tail into the stitches! I usually just tied the two tails together after making the x's but that always made my backs look messy. Thankyou!

I’m gobsmacked! I love your way of threading the needle, it’s so much easier than fighting with the thread to stay on the needle.

This might trigger someone, but I prefer learning this from a man. With tutorials by women I get the feeling I should know it already and be good at cross stitch because I'm a woman and every woman can do it. So thanks!

I just have to say that I have watched about 10 tutorials of women trying to explain cross stitching and was STILL having a hard time and you just blew them out of the water with this simple yet well educated video!!! Forever a subscriber!!!

i’ve done sO many cross stitch projects over the years but THIS video taught me the pull through thread thing and it saved me from all the losing-thread frustrations.. i can’t thank you enough

Thank you for showing the back & how to stitch over the tail & not have a big knot there !! I loved how you "anchored the thread on the needle at the beginning !? You're explaining is the best I have seen !! Thank you so much !! 💕💕

Woah, my brain just remembered that I had some kind of plastic starter kit like 25 years ago. The image was printed on the plastic. I really liked it and thought I did a good job, but my mum said I did it wrong because it has to be perfect on both sides. Not sure about that, must watch more of your videos to find out if she was right or just mean.

My mum taught me to use one strand folded in half too, only we use the loop to secure the starting stitch so will only have the ends to secure

I just got a nightmare before christmas one, and didn't understand the instruction, I'm so glad I found you!

I got a more complicated pattern yesterday, like other commenters, didn't expect the instructions to be vague and confusing. You were really clear in this and I could tell you knew what you were talking about

Hey Phil, what’s the reasoning behind starting in the middle of the work? Is it to ensure that you have enough space/centring the work or does it actually affect the quality of the work re: tension? Being a newbie to cross stitch, I would have thought starting at an edge and working in progressive rows would be more logical? Would the answer change if you were working a square pattern as apposed to a more free form shape like the ladybug?

First time in the operating room* Surgeon: How confident are u to perform the operation? Me: well I've learned cross stitch?

Thank you for the video! Have been cross stitching for years, and never thought to thread the needle the way you did. Such a great tip, thank you!!!

ive just come here after watching like half a dozen videos and you're the only person who explained it soooo easily and yeah genuinely you are such a great teacher thank you so much we all appreciate you :)

Hullo Quarantine peeps

cross stitch is like drugs, once you've started, you'll get addicted.

It feels like you and I are sitting on the sofa together and your teaching me how to cross stitch. Your going about it slowly and that's just the way I need to be taught! Your explaining it on a level I can understand...THANK YOU...also appreciate the great close up of what your doing!...sitting here having a cup of tea watching you and listening to your calming voice...your a great teacher! I liked and subscribed!

Thank you. I have never done any thing with a needle and thread before except sewing on a button, but you explained it so well that I think I might be able to do this. Thank you for making this easy for a beginner.

New to cross stitching! I really appreciate how clear and thorough you are with your explanations!

A lady I used to care for gave me a box filled with quilting patterns and supplies before she passed away. I found two Christmas cross stitch patterns and just enjoying the memories and about to start a pattern for a large Christmas present for my mother in law! It's been years since I've done anything like this, so you are super helpful! 💖 🌻

i've been doing embroidery on and off since i was little, and decided to pick up cross stitching recently at 20. hardly five minutes in and you blew my mind with the threading technique. years of fiddling with frayed ends... over! thank you for such an informative video!! edit: sealing the tail inside the stitching on the back! my mind!! blown!!

Thank you thank you thank you for stopping to explain the basics and the useful tips! I used to cross stitch when I was little, and have completely forgotten how, especially using a pattern- I just ordered my first cross stitch kit and I’m so excited. Your video is clear and concise and to the point, without being vague. 👌

I know you made this video 2 years ago, but I have finally found someone who explains it thoroughly and slow enough for me to understand. Thank you sooo much. I wish you taught an in-person class. I would definitely sign up

Wow, I learned this from my mother also. We had a rough relationship. Regardless, recently found a kit my husband gave me years ago. Thanks for the refresher. You totally rock!!! Serious respect!

This is the best tutorial! I’m brand new to this and watched a few other videos that didn’t make sense to me. Yours is perfect and I figured it out right away! Thank you!

Thank you! I'm a beginner and I was able to follow your direction directly as stated without any difficulty. I'm making my 6 year old daughter a cross-stitch penguin bookmark because she loves to read, so I want her to have a neat handmade bookmark from me. ❤️

Many thanks😂😂. The first video corrected some of my most frustrating problems. I’m sticking with you.!

This is awesome. I wanted to learn to stitch for years and the kits are always so confusing but your explanations and actually showing how to do it are so easy. Thank you so much for this. You are great.

Thanks Phil! Last time I tried was before RU-vid and I came across a brand new kit from over 10 years ago! You rock!

Oh my goodness thank you SO MUCH for including an explanation as to WHY you threaded the needle the way you did. Not trying to knock anyone who doesn’t give an explanation on the multitude of videos I’ve watched trying to learn how to properly thread a needle for cross stitching… but I needed the explanation. Your video is GREAT! I’m just getting into cross stitch and all of my pieces I’ve done so far I’ve threaded the needle through like you would when hand sewing with a regular needle and thread and didn’t get why people did it the way you did. Now I understand. Thank you!!!

I've been doing embroidery for years, but that tip about creating a little knot at the eye of the needle, it BLEW MY MIND ITS SUCH A GOOD IDEA THANK YOU

I loved cross stiching when I was little but haven't done it in around 20 years. I just decided to relearn and this was so freaking helpful!! Thank you!

This has been the most helpful cross stitch intro I've seen, others skip over the fact I don't even know how to thread the needle right! So I really appreciate how basic this is for first timers like me

5 yrs later and your video is still very helpful! The last time I did cross stitching was back in 2003. That's 20 years ago! But thanks to you I'm not as worried now that I'll mess up. I remember the back of my work before was very messy because I just did what I could to complete it without thinking what it would look like. Now I have a couple tricks to use from this video to through it all. 🤣

Watched all sorts of cross stitching tutorials on RU-vid and yours is still the best! Goes at a good and steady pace, clear closeup focus, and very informative.

I am an expert in knitting and crochet. I have done cross stitch in the past but have recently wanted to do it again. I have all the items needed but wanted to check out videos and read a few books before attempting and big projects. I found your video and it is really well done. Easy to understand and great visuals. I slipped right back into the mindset of cross stitching. Thanks so much. :-)

I love this. I've never seen a man cross stitch, and SO glad you do this!

I've been embroidering for almost 60 years. I've always wanted to do counted cross stitch. So many lovely choices compared to the stamped patterns. I could NEVER figure out or understand what the heck they are talking about!! Well this old woman, doesnt have time for that!! You have given me new hope. All these years, why has no one explained like this before??? So many years !!!!! Incredible job. Very much appreciated. My fear level lowered 90%.

Thank you so much Phil! This was! a non-frustrating way to learn a new skill during quarantine. I'm grateful for your patient voice and straightforward instructions!

Thank you so much!! I just got my first piece to cross stitch and was having a lot of trouble. After watching your video I am excited and looking forward to taking another stab at it!

Thank you for explaining everything so well! It’s often difficult to lay out the bare bone basics after having so many years of experience but this worked perfectly to help me understand.

Thanks! Just starting my first Eva cross stitch pattern you made it so much easier to start without worrying great tips!!!

Thank you Phil! I didn't even know how to properly thread embroidery floss. This was so helpful!

Thank you for these videos! I started my first piece today and watched a few clips to no avail, until I found yours and finally made a stitch. Much appreciated

I am a house cleaner, and one of our clients does BEAUTIFUL very advanced cross stitch. It's all over her home. She does both wall art and pillows. I was inspired by her to start the craft myself. Thank you very much for this video, you're a great teacher.

I'm just looking into starting cross stitch, this was the first video Iplayed after searching online, going off the comments I'm glad this one came up first 😊