Leni Bernardo

To the beginner, a cross-stitch chart may seem like a lot of mumbo-jumbo.  Yet they are a road map to creating a beautiful design.  Gaining an understanding of how to read cross-stitch charts and knowing how to work with them will allow you to create almost anything. 

Different Kinds of Patterns

Most cross-stitch is performed on Aida fabric, which is a specially woven fabric that allows you to see a grid pattern in the fabric.  Each stitch makes up an "x" that is sewn from one corner to the other. 

Cross-stitch patterns are designed to follow that pattern.  In some cases the pattern is printed on the fabric itself, while other patterns are printed on paper.  Still other patterns use a combination of both.  The patterns you buy in books are called "counted cross-stitch," because you have to count the number of stitches used to follow the pattern.  We are going to look more closely at this type of pattern, because it is the most commonly used.

It's a Grid

Counted cross-stitch patterns are easy to follow if you can read and count.  Patterns are drawn on what looks like a large piece of graph paper.  Each square represents one stitch.  While there are a lot of tiny squares, there are darker lines that mark off 10 x 10 sections of the pattern. 

These darker lines enable you to follow your pattern a little easier.  Some cross-stitchers will mark these lines on their fabric so that they can follow the pattern more easily.  If you choose to mark your fabric, make sure you use a water-soluble marking pen. 

In the center of your pattern you will see some arrows.  These point to the center of the design.  Knowing where the center of your design is allows you to have proper placement of it on your project.  For instance, if you are cross-stitching a pillowcase, you will need to be able to center your design so that it fits properly on your pillowcase.  You can count from the center of the design to your starting point on the fabric.

Reading the Key

While the grid makes it easy to count stitches and follow the pattern, you will notice that there are a lot of letters and symbols in each square on the pattern.  Each of these symbols or letters represents a certain color of embroidery floss.  That is the color you use to make that particular stitch.

Next to each pattern is a key to tell you which color embroidery floss corresponds to each symbol.  The more complicated the pattern, the more colors and symbols will be used.  In fact, some colors are so close to one another that it will be difficult to tell the difference.  Therefore, it is a good idea to use marked bobbins for your floss. 

The key will also tell you how many strands of embroidery floss to use for each stitch.  It is important to follow those instructions so that your design comes out right.  Otherwise you can end up with too thick or too thin lines and stitches.  Also, the key will tell you about quarter stitches, half-squares, and French knots. 

Other Details

The pattern will also give you an idea of the size of the finished product for the different types of fabric you can use.  Aida fabric comes in different sizes, so make sure you pay attention to the fabric you are using before you pick out a design.  You should always add three to six inches of extra fabric around the design, too. 

Following a cross-stitch pattern is not rocket science, but you should look over all the elements before you get started.  You want to make sure you are using the right pattern for your specific project and skill level.  Plus you want to make sure you have all the supplies you need, as it can be frustrating to have to stop stitching when you realize you are missing something.