Ellen Jackson

Most beginners of cross stitch start with cross stitching kits, which is a very smart and convenient thing to do when trying this new hobby.  The reason that cross stitch kits can be so convenient is they come with most of the supplies you need, aside from a good pair of scissors and possibly a hoop.  But someday after doing several kits, many cross stitchers find themselves seeking more of a challenge, as the average kit is really aimed at beginners and those slightly more advanced.

Building your cross stitch supplies can be rewarding in several ways.  It allows you to pick and choose from a variety of millions of patterns that may not come in beginner kits.  Another reason for building your cross stitch supply is knowing the different choices you have in the quality and appearance of your finished art.  Most kits come with good fabric and good floss but when building your own set of supplies, you can be sure you are working with the best you can afford for all your cross stitch masterpieces.

The first and most important aspect of building supplies is the type of fabric you choose to use.  The best fabric is often considered to be Aida.  Most cross stitch patterns use a fabric count of 11 or 14, and it is good to always have these specific fabrics handy when picking and choosing new projects.  Your supplies can have a variety of different colored fabrics if you like. However, I suggest staying away from dark colors as even the most experienced cross stitchers can have trouble with darker fabrics.

Last but not least, make sure to always buy fabric that has been kept in rolls or laid flat without folds.  Folded fabric can become creased and it can be very difficult to remove those creases from the fabric.  When trying to remove creases from fabric it can cause fading, stretching of the fabric and take away from the finished art you have spent so much time on.

The next step in building supply is to pick out the floss you are going to keep; there are two different options, skeins of floss or floss packets.  If you decide to build your supplies with skeins of floss, it is important to buy the best floss you can afford; this is the spirit of all your cross stitch pieces.  It is what makes your hard work vibrant and beautiful and you should use the best you can find.  However, it is important to use the best you can afford as well because you want to use the same brand of floss.

There are conversion charts for floss available but the subtle differences that occur in quality and color can jeopardize the look of your finished project.  If you decide to use floss packets you still may have to purchase individual skeins eventually, although the packets usually come with the most popular colors for many patterns.  Either way, you decide to go make sure you commit to memory the brand of floss you prefer so your colors will always match up.

Your cross stitch supplies are almost complete; all you need now is a pack of needles, some good sets of scissors and possibly a hoop.  Needles for cross stitch come in all shapes and sizes, there are all different kinds of fancy needles that are fun to experiment with until you find the different preferences you may have.  When starting out with new supplies and still being a fairly new cross stitcher, you should start with tapestry needles. Tapestry needles have a large eye, which make threading the needle much easier, and a blunt point that minimises damage to the fabric.

If you are using 11 count Aida fabric use a size 24 needle and if you are using 14 count fabric start with a size 26 needle.  As you grow more experienced with your stitching you can move on to try twin tips or easy thread needles as well as needles with specific coatings. Howeve, these are not necessary.  Scissors are important. You will need to keep two pairs in your supplies kit, one only for cutting fabric and one for cutting floss. The fabric scissors should be of good quality and quite sharp; hide them from your family and use them for nothing but to cut your fabric.

The scissors you use for floss only need to be sharp enough to cut the floss without fraying it; you can find adequate scissors at dollar stores. Hoops can be found at your local hobby store.  You should start with a small plastic or wooden hoop, I prefer wooden as it seems to give more when working on your design.

Finally, always buy the best supplies you can afford. It will show in your finished cross stitch designs in making them more vibrant and beautiful.  Always remember to keep all your supplies such as your scissors, hoop, and needles clean.