Today I plan to teach my granddaughter how to cross stitch...by hand.. I can't remember where you start ...Is it top to bottom?

Lovely question and so many different answers. I always start bottom left to top right!!! My very first x stitch many years ago I did not have the stitches all going the same way and it does show. Enjoy teaching your GD. Sarah.

It doesn't matter. Just make sure that the top thread is always going in the same direction.

I would start by running a thread every 10 stitches across and the same down, then find the center and count from there making the item or figure beginning there. I did some great work but gave it up before my eyes gave out!!

I hop e you share a picture of the finished piece in PROJECTS soon.

You should start on the bottom right side.

Egads I should have said that the cloth is colored so she would have to count...just tried to get all the stitches going the same way.

2 comments

by emily16838 19 Jul 2012

wouldn't I mean

by marjialexa 19 Jul 2012

I love the printed pattens! The only thing I could see to count any more is probably burlap or monks cloth, hee hee hee, and then I'd have to write the numbers on it or I'd forget.

I find it easier to start in the middle as the middle of the design is easier to find than count all the way either up or down! I find the middle of my cloth by folding it both ways to crease it & then put a pin in until I can get started. Do usually count over & start at the beginning of a line. Post what she does!

I learned that you should start on the bottom right side. All the stiches should go in the same direction. First stich half : reight to left than come back on the same row and stich from left to right.

1 comment

by anabela 19 Jul 2012

At the end, all the upper stitches should be in same direction. If you do that, the work will be so perfect in the end, it will look like a painting

I was always taught to start in the center - that's great that you are trying to continue to teach the 'old ways'-you never know if they would ever get the chance to have an emb mahine to do the work for them - GOOD LUCK! Charlotte :-) It keeps the handwork arts going!

I believe I always started in the centre of materila with the centre of design, but quite some years now since I did any

It doesn't matter at all! The only important thing is that all stitches are the same. I always start top left to bottom right.

3 comments

by spendlove 19 Jul 2012

Oops - just realised you asked the question twice!

by mops 19 Jul 2012

I do it the same way, but I've seen books started at the bottom. Never mind, as long as they are all going in the same direction.

by clawton 19 Jul 2012

This is the direction that I work also. That way your hand and threads are not traveling over the design as you work.