Cross stitch for beginners

A beginner's guide to cross stitch: fabric, floss, needles, how to start, and how to make easy patterns from your own photos.

New to cross stitch? It's easier than it looks. This quick guide covers what you need and how to start your first project.

What you need - **14-count Aida** fabric (the easiest to see) - **DMC floss** in your chart's colours - A blunt **tapestry needle** (size 24) - An embroidery **hoop** and small scissors - A **chart** — make one free from a [photo](/photo-to-cross-stitch)

Your first stitches Start from the centre of the fabric and work outward. Stitch each X the same way (all bottom legs one direction, all top legs the other) for a neat finish. Use two strands of floss on 14-count.

Keep it easy Start small — around 100 stitches wide — and use [easy cross stitch patterns](/easy-cross-stitch-patterns) with fewer colours. When you finish, a light press from the back makes the stitches pop.