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Cross stitch

  • Sampler stitch
  • Gros Point
  • Cushion stitch
  • Point de Croix Stitch
  • Point de Marque Stitch
  • Simple cross stitch
Cross stitch main image

Cross stitch consists of two straight, crossing stitches which can be worked individually or in rows. The direction of the top stitch should always be in the same direction (unless variation of the shade is required). When used for marking, it is often worked in a way that the stitching is identical on both sides (two-sided cross stitch) or so it forms a neat square at the back of the linen (marking cross stitch).

The earliest evidence of cross stitch (silk floss on cotton evenweave fabric) is from burial excavations in the Qadisha Valley, Lebanon dated to the 13th century AD.

From the 17th century, cross stitch features across different countries and traditions:  the Metropolitan Museum holds a Portuguese pattern book, showing counted thread cross stitch; Mary, Queen of Scots and her household stitched canvaswork cross stitch pieces (now held by the V&A museum); further east, Indian kanthas were being stitched using cross stitch, rather than the traditional running stitch.

The rise of Berlin wool work meant that canvaswork cross stitch had become very popular by the middle of the 19th century.

The use of cross stitch for counted thread embroidery is widespread across the Middle East, Asia and Europe: by Syrian, Palestinian, Egyptian and Yemeni stitchers; in Uzbekistan and by the Jat people in Kutch, India; in many eastern European countries, and specifically as Redwork (red stitching on white fabric) in several Mediterranean countries and Sweden.

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Crossed Filling Border Outline Shading Counted Thread Canvaswork Cross stitch Surface Berlin wool work Rug-making Stumpwork

Cross stitch is generously sponsored by Diana Stephenson

Method

There are two ways of completing cross stitch. The first is sometimes called the English method, where a single cross stitch is completed, one diagonal stitch over another, before moving on to complete the second stitch, and so on. The alternative method works multiple half cross stiches in a row before before returning in the opposite direction to complete each cross with a diagonal stitch.  This method is sometimes called the Danish method and English authors don’t always distinguish which part of the cross in uppermost, however in Denmark the first part of the cross is worked from left to right and the return journey from right to left.  This results in the uppermost part of each cross lying from bottom right to top left.

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Cross stitch method stage 1 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Individually worked: Take the first part of the stitch from the bottom right of the square across to the top left.

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Cross stitch method stage 2 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 2 photograph
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Bring the needle up at the bottom left of the square.

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Cross stitch method stage 3 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 3 photograph
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Work the second stitch from the bottom left of the square across to the top right.

The stitch directions could be reversed (i.e. bottom left to top right as the underneath stitch and bottom right to top left as the top stitch); it does not matter as long as the top diagonal stitch is consistent across all stitches.

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Cross stitch method stage 4 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 4 photograph
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A complete cross stitch, worked individually.

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Cross stitch method stage 5 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 5 photograph
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Worked in a row: work the first half of each stitch, in this example from top left to bottom right.

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Cross stitch method stage 6 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 6 photograph
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On the way back, work the second
half of each stitch, in this example from top right to bottom left.

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Cross stitch method stage 7 illustration
Cross stitch method stage 7 photograph
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A completed row of cross stitch

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Cross stitch method stage 8 photograph
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On the reverse side, you will see some vertical straight stitches.

Cross stitch

Structure of stitch

Cross stitch is comprised of two straight, diagonal stitches that cross over one another to form an ‘X’ shape of equal length legs.

Crossed

Common uses

Cross stitch is used mainly used to fill in decorative patterns or shapes, and can also be used for outlines.

Filling Border Outline Shading

Embroidery Techniques

Cross stitch is mainly used as a counted thread technique on aida fabric in canvaswork but is also found in free embroidery on evenweave fabric. Both are commonly worked from a gridded pattern called a chart.

Counted Thread Canvaswork Cross stitch Surface Berlin wool work Rug-making Stumpwork

Related Stitches

Broad cross stitch Alternating cross stitch Double cross stitch Double linked cross stitch Double straight cross stitch Flying cross stitch Long-armed cross stitch Maltese cross stitch Marking cross stitch Montenegrin stitch Oblong cross stitch Oblong double-tied cross stitch Reversed cross stitch Two-sided cross stitch Two-sided Italian cross stitch Upright cross stitch Herringbone stitch

Identifying Cross stitch

Cross stitch can be identified as two diagonal stitches, one over the other of equal length, to complete an ‘X’ shape. They can be seen individually in a pattern or in rows and columns making up a filled pattern.

References

Examples of Cross stitch