Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have had to find new hobbies. One of the easiest and cheapest pastimes is cross stitching. You can cross-stitch practically anything from a cute picture of an animal to a family portrait. It’s a fun and effortless way to create a memory that lasts forever. 

Cross stitching is a simple way to pass time or keep busy if it is difficult to sit still during a movie.

All you need to create the perfect cross stitch is floss, fabric and an idea. Cross stitching can be done on practically any type of fabric, from a new pair of jeans to a pillow that needs some decorating. The easiest way to start out is on some cross stitching fabric with an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut and prevent distortion. Everything you need to start out can be located in your nearest craft store or online.

To find what you want to make, Pinterest is one of the best places to look. There are thousands of designs for anything you want to stitch. You can copy the designs straight off of it, or use them as inspiration to create your own. There are also books such as the “Stitch People” collection that have a series of designs and ideas you can mix and match to create your own. Another thing you can use is a pattern purchased from a nearby store or online. Once you are finished with them though, you must rinse it with cold water to remove the lines you stitch over.

Once you find your inspiration, sketch it out on the fabric or a piece of paper to make sure that you have the right number of squares on your fabric. It’s also fun to look back on past designs and see just how much your abilities have grown. If you are having a hard time starting, hop on over to youtube and watch a tutorial or find a safe Facebook group for help. As soon as you have everything settled, put on some tunes or your next Netflix binge and start stitching!

While there are many different styles of stitches, the cross stitch is just a simple “x”. After you become comfortable with it, try throwing in some french knots or a satin stitch to make the cross stitch seem more textured. To obtain a french knot wrap your embroidery floss around the needle and then put the needle back through the fabric creating a knot. A satin stitch involves simply filling in a space with long stitches and no outline.

There are many different things you can do once it is finished. Many people like to sell things on Etsy or Instagram through commissions. Another thing you can do with the final product is give them out as gifts so that your loved ones can have something special made by you.

Contact Adeline Gruen at [email protected]