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Cross stitch is one of the easiest needle crafts to get started with because you don’t really need many supplies. A basic beginner kit only needs to contain a few items; fabric, thread, a needle, scissors, and a simple pattern to follow.
The Basic Supplies You Need For Cross Stitch
To get started with cross stitch, the basic supplies you generally need are:
- Cross stitch fabric, such as Aida
- Embroidery floss
- A tapestry needle
- A small pair of scissors
- A cross stitch pattern
- An embroidery hoop (optional)
Cross Stitch Fabric
The most common fabric for beginners is called Aida. You may see this referred to as Zweigart Aida, as Zweigart is a German company that is the largest producer of this type of cloth.
Aida is great for beginners as it contains a number of holes for your needle to be thread into. This allows you to make a stitch over each square on the grid, and count your stitches easily.
Many beginners start off with 14-count Aida, which means that each inch of fabric has 14 squares. This allows for easy stitching, without compromising too much on picture detail.
Other types of cloth that you may eventually progress to include evenweave and linen.
Embroidery Floss
This is the thread that is used to make stitches. It usually comes in small, oval shaped bundles called skeins.
Most embroidery floss is made up of six separate strands. For cross stitch, you may need to separate the floss out and only use some of the strands. Many beginners only use two brands on 14-count Aida cloth, but you should check the instructions if you are following a kit.
Tapestry Needle
Cross stitch usually uses a tapestry needle, which has a blunt tip and larger eye. This means that it’s easy to thread with strands of floss.
Having a blunt tip to the needle means that it can pass through fabric without splitting threads.
Small Scissors
You will need a small pair of scissors to cut through the embroidery floss. You can use embroidery scissors, which are small and sharp, but you don’t need anything special.
Cross Stitch Pattern
A cross stitch pattern tells you where to place each stitch and which colour you need to use. Patterns are a chart that uses a set of symbols and marks to denote colours and other instructions (such as what type of stitch to make).
The key then helps you to translate what colour each symbol denotes.
If you are a complete beginner, it’s best to start with a simpler pattern, instead of something that uses too many different colours and stitching techniques.
Embroidery Hoop
A hoop can help you to hold fabric in place and make it taut as you work. A frame is a similar contraption, but holds a much larger piece of fabric, rather than just a section.
This isn’t absolutely essential for a beginner, especially if you are using Aida. This is because Aida is starched, so is strong enough to hold. However, if you don’t like your fabric ‘flopping’ at all as you work, you could consider investing in a cheap embroidery hoop.
Is It Better to Buy a Cross Stitch Kit?
For many beginners, it can be. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you get a beginner-friendly choice.
If you are entirely new to cross stitch, you may find it easier to buy a kit that gives you only one or two very small patterns to follow. Look for a mini cross stitch kit, where you can try out a smaller design, rather than trying to tackle a large picture.
However, if you want to be more flexible, it may be best to stay a way from a kit and create your own design. This is probably more achievable if you are not a complete beginner, so it’s probably best to leave this until you have more experience.
Read Next
- What is Cross Stitch? A Simple Beginner Guide
- What is a Cross Stitch Key?
- What Is Aida Cloth?
- Do You Need a Hoop For Cross Stitch?
