How to Cross Stitch Letters and Alphabet

1. 1

   Step 1: Gather Your Materials

   Watch this step · 0:08

   Enlarge

   You need three things to get started: aida cloth (14-count works well for beginners - that means 14 squares per inch), DMC embroidery floss wound on small bobbins, and a printed alphabet pattern. The pattern shows you exactly where each X goes for every letter. Your kit probably came with everything you need, and if not, all of it is available at craft stores - even Walmart carries DMC floss.

   Tip:

   Wind your floss onto bobbins before you start so it doesn't tangle. Bobbins keep each color organized and make it easy to pull the right amount.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepDMC Embroidery Floss Starter Kit14-Count Aida Cloth White

   Back to all steps

2. 2

   Step 2: Cut and Separate Your Thread

   Watch this step · 2:27

   Enlarge

   Cut your floss to about 20 inches. Too long and it will knot constantly; too short and you'll be rethreading every few minutes. Once cut, take two strands out of the six. The six-strand bundle peels apart - just pull slowly and it separates cleanly. Those two strands together give you good coverage on 14-count cloth without being too bulky. Give the length a quick press with a flat iron to take out the bumps so it stitches smoothly.

   Tip:

   Pull the strands apart slowly from top to bottom. Rushing causes the whole length to twist and curl, which leads to knots mid-stitch.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

3. 3

   Step 3: Thread the Needle

   Watch this step · 3:34

   Enlarge

   Your kit includes a tapestry needle - it has a blunt tip and a large eye designed for cross stitch. Fold the two strands together and push the folded end through the eye first. This makes threading much easier than trying to poke a frayed end through. You want the needle sitting roughly in the middle of your 20-inch length, so you have about 10 inches on each side to work with.

   Tip:

   Tapestry needles have blunt tips - they slip between the weave of the cloth rather than piercing it. Using a sharp embroidery needle instead will split the threads and make counting difficult.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepDritz Tapestry Needles Size 24Cross Stitch Alphabet Pattern Book

   Back to all steps

4. 4

   Step 4: Plan Your Letter Placement

   Watch this step · 4:25

   Enlarge

   Before you make a single stitch, figure out where your letters will land. Each uppercase letter in this pattern takes up about 14 squares tall and 8-12 squares wide. Hold your cloth up and mentally block out the space. If you're stitching four letters, make sure you have enough room for all of them without crowding the edges. Starting too far to any side means you might run out of fabric before you finish the last letter.

   Tip:

   Count from the center of the cloth outward. It's easier to center your name or initials this way than to count from an edge and hope it works out.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps
5. 5

   Step 5: Anchor the Thread Without a Knot

   Watch this step · 5:05

   Enlarge

   Come up through the back at your starting square and pull the thread through, leaving a 2-inch tail on the back side. Hold that tail flat with your finger. As you make your first few stitches, you'll weave over that tail, locking it in place without any knot. Knots on the back create lumps that look unprofessional and can catch on things. This loop method keeps the back of your work clean and flat.

   Tip:

   Always start in a full square, not between squares. The aida cloth grid makes it obvious where the squares are - each intersection of the horizontal and vertical lines is a potential stitch hole.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

6. 6

   Step 6: Make Your First X Stitch

   Watch this step · 7:05

   Enlarge

   A cross stitch X is made in two moves. Push the needle up through the bottom-left hole, then down through the top-right hole - that's your first diagonal. Pull it through gently. Now come up through the bottom-right hole and push down through the top-left to complete the X. The key rule is consistency: all your first diagonals should face the same direction. Cori always goes bottom-left to top-right on the first pass, then crosses from bottom-right to top-left.

   Tip:

   Consistent stitch direction is what makes cross stitch look polished. If some X's cross one way and others cross the other way, the finished piece looks messy even when the pattern is correct.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

7. 7

   Step 7: Build the Column of Stitches

   Watch this step · 9:21

   Enlarge

   Most letters are made by stacking X stitches in a column or grid pattern. For a straight vertical stroke in a letter like D or I, you'll make X stitches one on top of the other - 14 stitches tall for a full uppercase letter. Check the pattern after every two or three stitches to confirm you're in the right column. Count carefully. A wrong square now means unpicking later, which is tedious but worth it to get the letter right.

   Tip:

   Keep your tension even as you pull the thread through. Too loose and the stitches look sloppy; too tight and the cloth puckers. Aim for a tension that sits snug without distorting the fabric.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

8. 8

   Step 8: Finish Off the Thread Without a Knot

   Watch this step · 10:06

   Enlarge

   When you run out of thread or finish a letter, flip the cloth to the back. Slide the needle under several of the horizontal thread segments that cross the back of your stitches - weave through 4 or 5 of them. Pull snug and trim the tail close to the fabric. This locks the thread in place without any knot. The back stays flat and the thread won't come loose over time. It's the same technique you used to start, just applied to the end.

   Tip:

   Always weave through at least 4 back stitches before trimming. Fewer than that and the thread can pull out with normal handling.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

9. 9

   Step 9: Finish the Bookmark

   Watch this step · 10:48

   Enlarge

   Once all the letters are stitched, sew a piece of backing fabric to the reverse so the back stitches are hidden and the piece lies flat. Cori machine-sews a scrap of fabric onto the back, but hand sewing works too. Add a ribbon at the top - run it through a small loop or staple it in place - and you have a finished bookmark. Press the ribbon briefly with a flat iron to smooth out any wrinkles. Your completed piece is ready to use or give as a gift.

   Tip:

   Be careful with the iron temperature on the ribbon - some ribbons melt quickly. Use a low setting and test on a small piece first if you're not sure of the material.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepCross Stitch Beginner Kit with Alphabet PatternDMC Floss Bobbin Storage Box

   Back to all steps

Keep going

How to Do Stem Stitch - Embroidery for Beginners

6 steps · about 8 minutes

→

Tools we recommend

• Similane

  Bamboo Embroidery Hoops + Needles Set

  Five hoop sizes plus a pack of needles, so you can mount any project and start stitching. Smooth bamboo that grips the fabric without marking it.

• DMC

  DMC Embroidery Floss, 36 Popular Colors

  The industry-standard 6-strand cotton floss in a ready color range, with needles included. Colorfast and smooth, so it will not fray as you stitch.

• Similane

  Similane 215-Piece Embroidery Starter Kit

  Hoops, 100 thread colors, aida cloth, needles, and tools in one box, so a total beginner can start today without a dozen separate orders.

Tags