Cross Stitch Kits Online
Cross stitch kits were a great invention for those who want to learn cross stitching. They make learning fun and easy because they provide all the supplies you need in a single kit so you can focus on learning.
After you've made your first kit project, you will find that you really do know how to cross stitch because there isn't much to this craft to begin with. What makes a stitching project more or less complicated is its size and some of the embellishments you can add to any project to enhance it.
There are two kinds of kits you should know about. Stamped cross stitch kits and counted cross stitch kits. The difference between these two is that in one the pattern is actually stamped or printed on the fabric, kind of like a coloring page.
Counted cross stitch requires that you read a pattern and then stitch it on the fabric. Typically stamped cross stitch is for beginners and is part of a kit. It makes it easier to focus on learning the handful of easy embroidery stitches that are considered cross stitching.
The only additional skill you need to make counted kits is to be able to count and read a chart or pattern. Either kind of kit will teach you cross stitching.
The supplies in these kits include aida fabric, a needle, the DMC or embroidery floss for the design and sometimes a hoop as well as a design and instructions.
The patterns in these kits are typically very simple designs, though some are quite elaborate. Two very good brands for cross stitching kits are made by Bucilla and Janlynn. They both make all kinds of embroidery, needlepoint and cross stitch project kits.
If you have ever played tic tac toe then you already know how to make the main stitch used in cross stitch because it is just like drawing the x. You take your needle up from a top corner in the grid fabric called aida cloth, and take the needle down on the opposite corner of that same grid, just like the diagonal line you make when you are playing tic tac toe.
Then you bring your needle back up on the other top corner and diagonally back down at the other bottom corner of the grid to make the x. It's that simple.
Other than that you should know NOT to tie a knot in your cross stitch floss before you start stitching. Instead, leave a bit of a tail and old it so that as you make other stitches you kind of sew over it.
When you get to the end of your thread or need to change colors, just run your needle under some of the other stitches already there on the back. That's sufficient for cross stitch to keep the end from coming undone.
You may find that placing your fabric in a embroidery hoop or frame will help hold it taught for you and make it easier to hold while you stitch.
When you are done you can frame it and hang it up or include it in some other larger project like a pillow, hand towels, bib or bookmaker.
These cross stitching kits make great gifts for wedding showers or baby showers too! Look for Disney designs or wedding themed kits.
If you go into a typical craft store, you will see the supplies for many types of crafts. For cross stitching, you will find thread, beads, fabric, patterns and kits.
Looking at the cross stitch kits, you can see that there are several different types to choose from. Below, is a quick description of each type of kit and the main advantage and disadvantage for each one.
Counted Cross Stitch - Stitches are done on a piece of blank aida cloth. By using a pattern (also called a chart) you have to count the squares on the cloth to know where to place your stitches.
For example, if you start with a symbol in the middle of the pattern you will place the corresponding stitch on the middle of the aida cloth. From there, count how many stitches there are of that symbol on the pattern and place them on the cloth relative to the first stitch.
The advantage of this method is that the look of the finished piece is uniform for the whole piece and many stitchers like this look the best. The disadvantage of this method is that it is easy to lose count of the stitches, resulting in an error in where the stitches have been placed on the cloth. To correct the error, you would then need to pull out the incorrect stitches.
Stamped Cross Stitch - The design is printed on the fabric, usually in colour, which will tell you what colours to cross stitch and where. I find that stamped cross stitch works best when the design is simple and you only need to use a small number of colours.
The advantage of this method is that you don't need to rely on a pattern or chart to know where to place your stitches, which can result in fewer mistakes than counted cross stitch. The disadvantage is that if the colours printed on the fabric are very similar, it can be hard to distinguish what colour to place where.
Embellished Cross Stitch - A design is printed on fabric and only a few parts on the finished piece need to be filled in or accented with cross stitching.
The advantage of this type is that it is faster to cross stitch an embellished fabric because you do not need to cross stitch the entire picture. The disadvantage of this method is that sometimes the pattern that is printed on the cloth is not printed straight. Also, some people think that the finished piece is not as pretty as pieces that are not embellished.
No-count Cross Stitch - Outlines are printed on the fabric and a chart shows what colour to fill in with x's.
The advantage of this method is that it is supposed to be faster than counted cross stitch, as you don't have to count to find out where each stitch should go. The disadvantage is that, similar to embellished cross stitch, sometimes the pattern that is printed on the cloth is not printed straight.
Every stitcher has a preference in the type of cross stitching that they like to do. Their preference is based on how much time they have to cross stitch, the end result and the ease of cross stitching that kit. Explore the different kits available and see which one you like the best.
For Even More Information On Cross Stitching, Cross Stitch Kits and The Best Places To Buy Cross Stitch Patterns and Kits, View the Resource Sites Below: