Ellen Jackson

Cross stitch has become such a popular hobby these days; in fact cross stitch's standing has become so high that there are now competitions for those who want to enjoy a different element of cross stitching.  These competitions can be found in any state, country, and almost always at county or state fairs. 

When looking for cross stitch competitions you can literally find dozens by doing a key word search on the internet.  Cross stitch competitions can be a lot of fun and add a different element of excitement to your favorite pastime.  When entering into a competition, not only do you have the chance to create a beautiful work of art you also have a new goal to do it to the absolute best of your ability in order to impress judges and win a prize.  The prizes for cross stitch competitions are usually supplies or new popular patterns or kits, although some competitions do give away monetary prizes as well.

Now the question becomes what you need to know before you enter into a cross stitch competition.  The first thing to know is what design you would like to choose or if there are stipulations in the competition for the types of patterns or designs entered.  You will need to know:

• the name of the design,
• who designed it,
• the materials you will use,
• how you plan to stitch the design (1 over 1, 2 over 2), as well as any changes you may have made to the design.

Always be sure to read the entire contest rules and stipulations before starting your project so you are aware of all the requirements for your piece. You don't want to be disqualified because you missed reading the directions.

After you have chosen a design, there are things you should keep in mind while working on your new project.  You should always look at the date your cross stitch must be finished by in order to enter it into the competition, give yourself plenty of time to do a good job. If you are rushed, it will stress you out and take all the fun out of your project. 

Other things to keep in mind while you are working on your cross stitch is to make sure as you work you are keeping the back of your cross stitch very neat and tidy; the completed piece is judged front and back, so you don't want any long carryovers that are visible from the front or floss tails that are not tucked away and trimmed short.  The back of your cross stitch doesn't need to be perfect but you do want it to look tidy, with no tails poking through to the front or large loops and untidy knots. 

When your project is judged, the judges will always check to see that the stitches are crossed in the same direction. This is very important; they will check your entire piece.  They will also look to see if your stitch style is consistent, in other words if you start with single X's complete the entire cross stitch this way, if you //// then \\\\ do this for the entire project.

There is usually no preference on which way you cross stitch, since there are different preferences on left to right or right to left, just that you are consistent.  Usually it is wise to "railroad" your stitches as it helps them to lie flat and keeps tension in the floss as you stitch. However, you should stitch what ever way makes you most comfortable with your work.

After you have finished your cross stitch and are ready to put the finishing touches on it before submitting it, you should think about how you will frame or display your art, as well as the proper cleaning and care.  If you have created a piece that you would frame, you should definitely frame it. Most competitions do not judge the frame but it is not only a good finishing touch but  it hides what can be ugly edges as well as complement your design and make it stand out more. 

When you are finished with your piece, before you frame it you should make sure that all your ends are clipped, extra fuzz or floss removed from front and back, check your design for pet hair or any stains or smudges that need to be removed.  After assessing the amount of cleaning that needs to be done, clean your art and then frame or finish it. 

If you have created a pillow or afghan, make sure that is no bunching at the seams and if there is bunching use cording to cover it up. This also adds a nice visual effect.  Also if you have made a quilt, make sure your batting is distributed evenly so there are no bulges or flat areas in the quilt. 

The idea of competition is not one that usually enters our minds when thinking of our hobbies but it can really add a new dimension to the enjoyment you already derive from your past time.  So enjoy some good old fashioned competition and Good Luck!