Embroidery – one of the most common and favorite activities of needlewomen of all ages. Among the variety of types of embroidery cross embroidery has the greatest appeal and has not lost its popularity since its inception. Partly this served as a broad opportunity of this technique – cross embroidered patterns on clothing, tablecloths, pillows, napkins and other accessories and decorative items, as well as create pictures and panels, with embroidery provides almost endless opportunities to realize the most diverse ideas – from simple paintings to paintings of world classics.
Cross-stitch – a method of embroidering a pattern on a canvas with a needle and colored threads (floss) or other threads for embroidery by the technique of “cross-stitch”. Cross embroidery belongs to the counting types of needlework. The basic element is the cross stitch, which consists of two intersecting oblique stitches. There are many types of cross, cross embroidery techniques are usually used in a full cross or half-cross.
A simple cross – is two diagonal crossing stitches. It usually starts from the top right diagonally downward, and ends – from the bottom right diagonally upward. An important feature of cross stitching: all upper stitches should lie flat and in the same direction, the lower – in the opposite direction.
A half cross is the first stitch in a simple cross.
Double (“Bulgarian” cross) – a technique that is used less frequently, because of the greater labor intensity. It is an alternation of simple crosses and between them a small straight lines.
We can also identify other types of “cross”: an elongated cross, elongated cross with stitching, Slavonic cross, straight cross, alternating crosses, “Star”, Leviathan, Rice Stitch, Italian cross.
Techniques of cross embroidery
Cross stitch is the easiest stitch to learn. Even beginners can do a simple cross embroidery, because to master the technique does not require much time and effort. Cross stitch is easy to learn and for children. For them, it’s not only a fun activity, but also a hobby that helps in developing an artistic taste and a sense of beauty, which fosters perseverance and ability to focus.
Performing a “cross” can be done in several ways:
- The classic technique of cross-stitch – the English method or “Back Needle”.
- Danish method
- Simple diagonal
3.1 Double diagonal (left to right)
To try this technique, look closely at the diagram. The section to be embroidered is represented by a double chain of red squares.
Procedure: start embroidering from the bottom with two single stitches in parallel squares. After finishing the side, go back down, closing the stitches and making crosses.
3.2 Double diagonal (right to left)
The technique of embroidering diagonally from right to left is very different from the same technique but from left to right, despite the seeming similarity. If you have already mastered the double diagonal from left to right, be careful when doing this technique.
- Vertical Cross Stitch.
Procedure: Start embroidering from the top, making diagonal stitches downward. Once done, continue upward, completing the crosses with the top stitches.
- Increasing the crosses.
Procedure: Start embroidering with the longest row. Make diagonal stitches. When you move to a row with fewer stitches and complete it, do not embroider the next row with more stitches at once. Once the piece is complete, finish the diagonal stitches in the rows with more filled canvases, going up. Next, complete the crosses as indicated in the diagram. - Tapestry (half-cross).
The Tapestry technique is worth mentioning separately. Many people love this technique because of the time savings of doing it.
Tapestry stitch is a half-cross stitch that is done from left to right upward. When embroidering a row from right to left, the direction of the stitch changes from top right to bottom left. The stitches are strictly parallel to each other. The thread when doing the work should not be tightened.
Fixing the thread
At the beginning of the embroidery need to fix the thread. This can be done as follows by the method of “loop”: a piece of thread-straw should be folded in half in the middle and the resulting loop to put in the eye of the needle. Insert the needle into the corner of the “cell” of the canvass so that the needle comes out on the front side, and the loop that we made in the previous step remains on the wrong side. Making a small indentation, bring the needle to the wrong side, put it through the buttonhole and tighten the knot. Next, begin embroidering.
Another common way to work with thread is to attach a new thread. This technique may be needed in those cases where you need to change the color of the thread or ran out of working thread. To accurately attach the new thread, gently pull it under several stitches on the back side of the painting to the place where you will begin to work with it. Make a reverse needle stitch at this point and continue embroidering.