Beginner guide · at home
Cross stitch for beginners
How to start cross stitching — what to buy, how to read a chart, and the three stitches you actually need. A full starter kit costs under £20.
What is cross stitch?
Cross stitch is a form of counted embroidery worked on evenweave fabric — usually Aida — using a simple X-shaped stitch. You follow a chart where each square on the grid represents one cross stitch, and each colour corresponds to a thread colour. The technique is highly structured, which is exactly what makes it so beginner-friendly: there's no freehand drawing, no guesswork, just counting and stitching.
It's also one of the most portable crafts around. A small project fits in a zip-lock bag and can be picked up and put down between bus stops. You'll find it described as "meditative" almost universally by people who stitch regularly — the repetitive counting and X-by-X progress is oddly satisfying.
What you need to start
| Item | What to get | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Aida 14-count, white or cream | £3–£8/metre | Standard beginner size — holes easy to see |
| Needle | Tapestry needle, size 24 or 26 | £1–£3 (pack) | Blunt tip goes through holes cleanly |
| Thread | DMC stranded cotton | £0.60–£1 per skein | 6-strand — split to 2 strands for 14-count |
| Hoop | 15cm or 20cm embroidery hoop | £3–£8 | Keeps fabric taut; plastic or wood both fine |
| Chart | Printed pattern or PDF | Free–£8 | Lots of free beginner patterns on Pinterest/Etsy |
| Scissors | Small embroidery scissors | £4–£10 | Sharp point for snipping threads close to fabric |
Total starter spend: around £12–£20 if buying separately. Starter kits bundle these together for £8–£18.
Understanding Aida count
Aida count refers to the number of holes (and therefore stitches) per inch. Higher count = smaller stitches = more detail but harder to see.
11-count — Large holes
Good for children or if you find the holes hard to see. Stitches are big and chunky.
Beginner-friendly14-count — Standard
The default choice. Comfortable to stitch, widely available, suits most beginner patterns.
✓ Recommended start18-count — Fine detail
Produces a more detailed finished piece. Harder on the eyes. Move to this after a few projects.
IntermediateThe three stitches you actually need
Most cross stitch patterns use only these three. Master them and you can stitch almost anything.
Cross stitch
Essential- Work from left to right across a row. Bring needle up at bottom-left of the hole.
- Insert needle at top-right (one diagonal stitch across).
- Continue across the row making all the bottom diagonals first.
- Work back right-to-left, completing the top diagonals to form the X shapes.
- Consistency matters: always make the top diagonal in the same direction.
Backstitch
Essential- Used for outlines, text, and fine detail lines. Use 1 strand on 14-count Aida.
- Bring needle up one hole ahead of where you want the line to start.
- Insert needle one hole back (in the direction you came from) to create the stitch.
- Bring needle up one hole ahead again, and repeat.
- The "back" motion is what creates the continuous line.
Half stitch
Useful- Just one diagonal of the full cross stitch.
- Used to create shading, blending between colours, or where the pattern calls for a half-filled square.
- Work the same direction as your bottom diagonal.
- Some patterns use half stitches in background areas to create texture.
How to read a cross stitch chart
A cross stitch chart is a grid where each square = one cross stitch. Each colour is represented by a symbol (a dot, a cross, a dash — whatever the designer chose), and a key tells you which DMC thread number corresponds to each symbol.
1. Find the centre of the chart
Most charts mark the centre with arrows on the edges. Start stitching from the centre of your fabric outward — this keeps the design centred.
2. Find the centre of your fabric
Fold the fabric in half twice. The crease intersection is your centre. Mark it with a pin or a single stitch in a contrast thread (remove later).
3. Work one colour at a time
Most stitchers complete all of one colour before moving to the next. Start with the most prominent colour in the centre area.
4. Use the colour key
The key maps each symbol to a DMC thread number. Buy those exact colours if possible — substituting is fine but match the key to avoid confusion.
Good first cross stitch projects
Small botanical motif
2–3 inches · 1–2 hours
Simple shapes, few colours. Done in an evening. Great for testing your tension before a bigger project.
Simple animal silhouette
3–4 inches · 3–5 hours
Popular beginner pattern type — recognisable result, satisfying to complete. Search "beginner cross stitch cat" on Etsy for free PDFs.
Short word or phrase
4–6 inches · 4–8 hours
Text patterns teach you to work in rows efficiently. Backstitch lettering looks impressive for the effort required.
Floral sampler
4×6 inches · 10–15 hours
Covers multiple colours and techniques in one project. Samplers are a classic first-project format and look great framed.
Where to find beginner patterns
Etsy
Huge range of PDF patterns, many free or £1–£3. Search "beginner cross stitch PDF" — filter by "free" to find no-cost options to practise with.
Free charts shared widely. Quality varies but easy to find simple 50–100 stitch designs perfect for first projects.
Domestika
Structured courses that include patterns as course materials. Better if you want guided learning rather than just a pattern.
Learn cross stitch with a structured course
Domestika's embroidery and cross stitch courses include step-by-step video instruction, close-up technique shots, and course patterns. From £7.99 on sale.
More embroidery guides
Cross stitch
FAQs
Everything you need to know before you book.