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SUtchiMgbasics

START STITCHING

Be braue and make yourfirst stitch with confidenee using our simple guide Stępi    ; Step2    j Step3    i S

START stitching in thecentre of your fabric at the centre of your chart. Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric for your f irst stitch. Make a diagonal half cross stitch over a single aida błock or two evenweave threads.

MAKE a second diagonal stitch to complete the cross. The direction of your diagonals are up to you, just be surę all your top crosses face in the same direction. Otherwise, your design will end up looking uneven.

ONCE the cross stitched areas are finished, you can add the backstitch outlines. You’ll find it helpful to change to a sharp embroidery needle. Weave your thread through the reverse of your stitches to secure before you begin the backstitch.

MAKE a backstitch over about 1-3 aida blocks, following the chart. For the second stitch, bring your needle up 1-3 aida blocks away from this stitch and take it down next to your previous stitch, and so on.

MAKING IT SECURE

WORKI NG from front to back, puli your needle almost a!S the way through your fabric. Use your f inger to hołd about 3cm of thread on the back. Stitch as normal, guidrng the backs of your stitches so tbey cover the thread taił. Once it's been covered by at least four stitches, release your fingerand continue stitching.

LOOP KNOT

WHEN using just two threads, work a loop knot by cutting a length of thread twice as long as you need it to be and folding in half. Thread your needle as normaI and make a half cross stitch. As you puli your thread through the reverse of your fabric,carefully loop your needle through the thread loop to secure. This is a really great way to start stitching without having to tie a knot!

WASTE &

SOLUBLE CANVAS

WASTE canvas and Soluble Canvas are used when stitching onto fabrics other than aida and evenweave, Tack onto your fabric and stitch as normal. When you've finished, soak in warm water Soluble Canvas will dissolve completely in water. For waste canvas, you’ll need to remove each each strand individually.

WASTE

CANVA5

SOLUBLE

CANVAS

EASY GUIDES

FOR EASY-TO-FOLLOW GUIDESON FRACTIONALS, FRENCH KNOTS, BE ADING AND M UCH MORĘ, VISIT US ONLINE AT

www.crossstitchermagazine.co.uk