There are many types of cross stitch, including clocks, landscapes, calligraphy and painting, still life, characters, cartoons, flowers, animals, pillows, Chinese style, religion (Islamic Muslims, mosque paintings, Arabic architectural styles), wallets, car pillows, card covers, card bags, double-sided embroidery, three sided embroidery, three-dimensional embroidery, mobile phone bags, peace and happiness, pendants, household items, accessories, embroidery series, personal photos, wedding cross stitch, etc.


Folding and editing the purpose of this paragraph
From the use of cross stitch, it can be roughly divided into four parts: firstly, clothing and accessories; The second is accessories and ornaments; The third is daily necessities and home decoration; The fourth is leisure and making friends.

Firstly, clothing and accessories. In Europe, cross stitch was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. In China, as early as the Tang Dynasty, there were "cloud shoulders" in Dunhuang murals. In the Sui, Tang, Yuan and other periods, only the upper class members of the imperial palace nobility could use (enjoy) this clothing, and the images included "Four Harmony Ruyi" and "Blessing and Celebration Ruyi". There are embroidered bags with "cloud shoulders" and bibs for children on the product.

Secondly, accessories and ornaments. In ancient times, accessories were divided into product categories: purse, cigarette purse, fragrance purse, waist purse, miscellaneous treasure belly purse, fan cover, fan bag, handkerchief bag, glasses box, and jewelry box. They were mostly used by high-ranking officials and literati. In terms of meaning, the songs "Lai Kan", "Kao Hong", "Ting Qin", "Jia Qi", "Die Lian Hua" in "The Romance of the Western Chamber" often symbolize love, having many children and blessings, peace, auspiciousness, and good fortune.

Thirdly, in terms of daily necessities. Old door curtains, daily necessities such as "curtains," "pillows," "pillows," and "paintings. Cross stitch has developed to this day, with cross stitch pillows being the most common. Embroidering a pillow for a loved one, every stitch and thread carries one's own thoughts and blessings. In addition to cross stitch, there is also ribbon stitch. Famous embroidery pieces include "San Yang Kai Tai Pillow Top", "Fisherman Delights", "Xian Hu Ji Qing", "Blessing in Front of You", "Door Curtain Ribbon", etc. Cross stitch is mostly appreciated as a luxury item.

Fourth, make casual friends. Cross stitch is exquisite and has a high decorative effect and collection value. Embroidery enthusiasts who love cross stitch can embroider beautiful scrolls together, and also embroider exquisite works to give to friends and family. Cross stitch is also an excellent way of leisure, suitable for all ages. Children can develop hands-on skills, while adults can enrich their leisure life, cultivate emotions, cultivate oneself, and relieve stress.

There are many specifications for cross stitch fabric, and the size of the grid also varies:

9ct means one inch (2.54 centimeters) has 9 grids, usually embroidered with 6 strands of thread (or 4 strands of thread), hooked with 3 strands of thread, and embroidered with a 20 gauge needle;

11ct means there are 11 grids in one inch, usually embroidered with 4 strands of thread (or 3 strands of thread), hooked with 2 strands of thread, and embroidered with a 22 gauge needle;

14ct means there are 14 grids per inch, usually embroidered with 2 strands of thread, 1 strand of thread hooked on the edge, and embroidered with a 24 gauge needle;

18ct means there are 18 grids per inch, usually embroidered with 2 strands of thread, 1 strand of thread hooked, and 26 gauge needle.

(Full embroidery method: embroider 9ct fabric with 6 strands of thread, embroider 11ct fabric with 4 strands of thread; sparse embroidery method: embroider 9ct fabric with 4 strands of thread, embroider 11ct fabric with 3 strands of thread)

There are also optional tools: embroidery frame, tension bar, winding board, small scissors, thread remover, etc.

Folding special tools
When embroidering multiple embroidery threads or other types of embroidery threads, you can also use tools to reduce tangles. Using tools requires specialized operation with one hand, so it is recommended to use a vertical embroidery stand in this situation.

Many things can be used as tools: a large embroidery wall hanging needle, a smaller crochet hook, a rolled edge needle, and so on.

Basic materials
Cross stitch thread: Cross stitch uses 6 strands of thread, each bundle is 8 meters long. Generally, 11CT fabric uses 3 strands of thread for embroidery, and 14CT fabric uses 2 strands of thread for embroidery. Color comparison tables are provided between various brands.

Cross stitch embroidery needle: Cross stitch embroidery needles are very special. The needle tip is round, so you don't have to worry about hurting your hands. There are three specifications of embroidery needles, namely 22, 24, and 26, with the larger the number, the thinner it is. 24 is a commonly used embroidery needle, and there are also bead needles used for threading beads.

Cross stitch thread threading board: It is a cardboard board (mostly 250g white cardboard) with many oval holes pressed out and labeled with numbers. The embroidery thread corresponding to the DMC thread number marked on the cross stitch drawing is threaded into the corresponding thread hole, which can help you distinguish the embroidery threads with similar colors and find the thread to be embroidered during embroidery. Divided by the number of holes into 12 holes (for double-sided embroidery), 28 holes, 30 holes, 36 holes, 40 holes, etc.

Cross stitch embroidery fabric: Cross stitch embroidery fabric is in a grid shape with square grid eyes. Domestic fabric is generally 1.5 meters wide and can be cut according to size. After washing and ironing, the effect is better. There are more than 30 colors, including white, big red, black, deep blue, light blue, linen (beige), and pink. According to thickness, there are 21 yarns, 24 yarns, 30 yarns, 32 yarns, and single strand yarns (for insoles). Commonly used according to specifications are 9CT, 11CT, 14CT, and 18CT. Also, use double-sided embroidery and plastic bags for carrying bags. Most of them are 14CT, and the most commonly used colors are generally red, black, and beige.

Cross stitch drawing: Cross stitch drawing is a professional software that divides the cross stitch pattern to be embroidered into grids. Each grid is marked with a color code, and different colors are represented by different color codes. Each corresponding color code has a corresponding DMC line number. Then, these color codes are arranged with a serial number, and the needle method and hook edge are clearly marked. The embroidery method in the basic diagram will be indicated on the drawing. Generally, every 10 grids around the drawing will be labeled with numbers for easy viewing and estimation of the size of the drawing. Cross stitch drawings can be roughly divided into two types: one is printed by oneself, and the other is printed by a professional company.

Crane shaped scissors: They are specifically designed for cross stitch embroidery. Compared to ordinary scissors, crane shaped scissors can handle even small parts cleanly and cleanly. Their humanized design that fits the shape of the hand and exquisite appearance perfectly match the unique art of cross stitch.

Wire box: made of plastic, divided into three sizes: large, medium, and small. It is mainly used to hold small items such as wire boards, beads, needles, etc. Small wire boxes are convenient to carry and can store 20-25 wire boards for daily use when going out.

Frame: Although traditional rules state that cross stitch does not require embroidery frames, embroidery frames can make the fabric flat and prevent the cross stitch fabric from becoming loose. Moreover, using embroidered fabric provides greater visibility than holding it in hand. You can choose to use it according to the size of the work or personal habits.

When threading the needle up from under the embroidery cloth, gently pull up the thread and use those tools to tap the embroidery cloth near the point where the thread is threaded, which can make the embroidery thread flat and keep it parallel.


Folding and selecting embroidery fabric
Overall, the cross stitch fabrics we come into contact with come in different types according to different classifications:

According to the grid division, cross stitch fabric can also be divided into 32ct (count), 28CT, 18CT, 16CT, 14CT, 11CT, and 9CT 8CT. The larger the amount, the smaller the grid appears.

According to texture, cross stitch fabric can be divided into plastic fabric (mainly used for embroidery pendants and wallets), cotton fabric, etc.

According to color: Cross stitch fabrics are mainly available in white, bright red, black, deep blue, light blue, linen (beige), and pink.

Generally, there are no special requirements for cross stitch fabrics, and 11ct or 14ct cotton fabrics are chosen. Of course, different works have different requirements, such as cushions, baby bibs, etc. Due to their special uses, the fabric is required to be relatively soft.

Many people started embroidering cross stitch on AIDA, and only switched to embroidering on linen or other EVENWAVES when their embroidery skills matured. Many embroidery enthusiasts are more familiar with how to embroider on fine linen cloth. Actually, this is entirely a personal choice, and there are also many skilled embroiderers who like AIDA.

EVENWEAVE refers to fabrics with the same number of yarns spun horizontally and vertically within the same length. Although the thickness of each yarn may be uneven - as can be clearly seen from linen fabric - the number of yarns in a certain length must be the same.

Embroidering cross stitch on AIDA involves embroidering X within a square. On linen or other EVENWAVES, because there are no small squares, it is usually embroidered across two strands of yarn on the fabric surface. This means that the size of the embroidered works on 28COUNT linen and 14COUNT AIDA is the same.

Everyone has felt that AIDA feels much firmer to the touch than EVENWAVES fabric. This cannot be said to be good or bad, it is entirely determined by personal preferences. Moreover, the softness and hardness of the embroidery fabric do not affect the selection of flower supports or embroidery frames.

When embroidering 1/4 and 3/4 stitches, EVENWAVES fully demonstrates its superiority. When embroidering two types of stitches on AIDA, we need to thread the needles through the middle of a small square, and sometimes we have to use thinner needles, such as 26 or even 28 stitches. To embroider on EVENT WEAVES, simply thread the needle between the two strands of embroidery fabric without any effort.

In addition, some people believe that holes can be seen more clearly on EVENWAVES, while others think that AIDA is easier.