Explore guide
Keep cross-stitch direction consistent
Choose the same top diagonal throughout an area unless the design specifies otherwise. Working a row in two passes still needs the same final crossing direction.
Related lessons and tools
Choose the same top diagonal throughout an area unless the design specifies otherwise. Working a row in two passes still needs the same final crossing direction.
Before you start
Have the chart key, chart width and height, fabric thread count and threads crossed by each stitch. Keep floss strands separate from fabric threads.
How to do it
- For a row of crosses, bring the needle up at the lower-left corner of one chart cell and down at its upper-right. Repeat that diagonal across the row, then return with lower-right to upper-left diagonals.
- Keep the top diagonal in the same direction throughout. On evenweave over two, each side of the cell spans two fabric threads; it does not mean using two floss strands. For variegated thread, complete crosses individually when the desired color effect needs it.
Try this example
Stitch a three-by-three block, marking the top diagonal on the chart copy. Turn the fabric back to the same orientation after a break before continuing.
Check your result
- Count from two independent reference points before filling a large area. Verify the outer stitched dimensions on the actual ground; include finishing fabric separately.
- Changing fabric count changes physical size, not chart complexity. Fractional stitches, mixed scales and non-square grounds need explicit chart instructions.
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