ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

10 Supplies To Help You Get Started Cross Stitching

Updated on January 7, 2016
Source

It's time to gather the necessary supplies to cross stitch a spectacular design. It may be a simple or harder intricate pattern. Which ever it is you'll need to get all the supplies in order before starting your project. First and foremost it is a great idea to be organized before you start.

Here's a list of 10 supplies you'll need to get started with:

  • Patterns
  • Aida Cloth
  • Cross Stitch Floss
  • Hoops or Scrolls
  • Tapestry Needles
  • Scissors
  • Magnetic Board with rulers
  • Pencil or Pen
  • Craft Lamp
  • Glasses (as needed)

I can't stress being organized enough. It makes your stitching time go so much more smoother. So lets get started in learning about each of these supplies I listed.


Cross Stitch Materials and Tools

Materials:

  • Aida Cloth
  • Cross Stitch Floss
  • Patterns to choose from
  • Chart of pattern

Tools:

  • Hoops or Scrolls
  • Tapestry Needles
  • Craft Lamp
  • Magnetic Board
  • Ruler Magnetic Plain or Magnified Ruler
  • Eye Glasses (If needed)

Source

Instructions:

1. Having an array of patterns is must. You'll want to choose a design you are interested in. Maybe your making one for a friend or to hang in your home. I have a whole shelf and then some of patterns. I'm always collecting more and more to do.

Read about a Guardian Angel Cross pattern review here.

Source

2. Once you got your pattern chosen then you need to choose your cloth to stitch on. I have various colors of Aida cloth on hand to choose from. Aida cloth comes in different sizes. Your pattern will give a suggested size. General sizes are 11, 14, and 18.

Source

3. Now it's time to get your floss colors together and organized. I like to have a little box to keep them in all numbered and in order for easy finding access. I don't like to have hunt for my colors. Even with kits that you get and the floss that comes with, it's a good idea to organize them before starting your project.

Read about a Cross Stitch Floss Organizer Storage Box review here.

Source

4. Depending on the size of your design, there are different sizes of hoops to choose from when working on your pattern. They even come in fun colors or timeless wooden ones. I also like to use a scroll for larger projects as it is easier to just scroll the cloth up or down.

Source

5. It's a good idea to have a few tapestry needles handy. If you lose one, you'll have another one to use. Hopefully you don't have butterfingers like me but if you do more than one is a great idea!

Source

6. You'll need a pair of scissors for snipping ends of the floss off. I like to have a small one that I can keep with my project at all times. Mine is a fold up one which I just love. I've seen some a bit more fancier handled that don't fold up.

7. A magnetic board is really nice to put your pattern on. I like to use a magnetic ruler to keep my place where I am at on the pattern. I even have one that is magnified which is handy since some patterns have such small symbols on them. Plus is helps with not straining your eyes so hard.

Source
Source
Source

8. Another thing that is handy is having a pen or pencil to use to mark where you are at on your pattern. It helps to not lose your place so you don't make a mistake and try to restitch that stitch again. Along with the idea of marking your pattern, you'll want to make a copy of the original one. That way you can save the original for another time when you might want to make it again.

9. Important lighting is essential while working on your pattern. I recently invested in a craft lamp. The bulb is a more white natural light then the normal yellowish lights that are in homes. The craft lamp is nice because it has an adjustable goose neck so you can set it for your comfort height. Mine has a magnifier arm on it which has been a life saver for not straining my eyes. Works great for darker Aida cloth colors. They do come with out the magnifier's on them as well.

Read about a Ottlite Craft Lamp review here.

10. Last but not least. If you wear glasses, always keep them in reach when stitching. I could never see to stitch or read anything without them. Over time my eyes have gotten worse so it's very important to have the right prescription for seeing properly; even reading glasses help immensely!

What Do You Think?

Do you like to be organized when starting and working on a project? I know I do! I'd love to hear how you get organized.

© 2014 Cheryl Fay Mikesell

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)