Cross Stitch Supply

Basic Cross Stitch Supply

On one level, it doesn’t make sense to buy things when you don’t know how you’re going to use them. That way you don’t have to store extra supplies and you save money by only buying the things you really need.

We crafters know that method just isn’t very fun. Sometimes you want to pick up a little something “just in case” because it’s on sale, a beautiful color or in some other way irresistible. That’s fine. We all do it (some more often and with more crafts than others!) and it’s an enjoyable part of being a crafter.

Really, though, you don’t have to have a lot of supplies to get started with cross stitch. All you really need are:

• cross-stitch fabric
• a pattern to stitch
• thread to stitch with
• scissors
• needle
• maybe a needle threader
• a hoop

Even within this relatively small list, there’s lots of room for building up a great stash. If you’ve got a birthday or other holiday coming up, direct your friends to this article as guidance for what to buy you.

Cross Stitch Fabric

Cross stitch fabric comes in a rainbow of colors to compliment any design. While most people start with plain white or cream-colored fabric, let yourself be tempted by pastels, dark and bright Christmas colors, even black fabric.

Most people start with Aida, a 100 percent cotton fabric. It’s known as interlocking fabric, because each thread you can see is made up of several smaller threads. This makes the squares easy to see and it is simple for beginners to understand where the stitches go.

It’s also a fabric that is easy to find everywhere, comes in a multitude of colors and counts (the space between the holes is expressed in the count number, bigger numbers means more holes, smaller squares and smaller stitches). Aida 14 is the standard for many patterns, and that is the count that will give you the most variety of color.

There are also flecked Aida fabrics that have a sort of rustic, heathered look, which can be perfect for some country themed designs. Then there’s damask Aida, which is a combination of cotton and rayon, making a silkier fabric that’s great for home décor items like pillows.

Beyond Aida you’ll find linen fabric, which is woven with a sort of basket weave pattern. Threads are distinct and commonly worked over two squares at a time. It’s easy to make quarter stitches on linen, so this is the right choice for a very detailed pattern. You can find 100 percent linen cloth as well as linen blends.

Then there are specialty cross stitch fabrics, like those with metallic threads woven in, traditional woven fabrics and Swedish fabrics, or huck fabrics, which have geometric designs woven into the fabric. You’ll probably want to try all of these fabrics at some point to see which ones you like best!

Cross Stitch Thread

There are more cross stitch thread colors and types out there than you could possibly ever work with. That doesn’t mean you don’t need more in your cross stitch supply stash!

DMC is probably the most well-known brand of cross stitch thread (also known as floss). The company offers a staggering 454 colors of cotton floss, 11 colors of metallic floss, 292 colors of pearlized cotton, 100 colors of rayon, wool in 180 colors and linen in 24 colors. If someone asks you what you want for a holiday, say, “oh, just pick me up some cross stitch floss” and you’re sure to get a wonderful gift. you can use

Coats & Clark, under the brand names Anchor and J & P Coats, sell embroidery supplies and cross stitch thread. They offer pearl cotton in many different sizes and hundreds of colors, as well as 90 colors of rayon thread, metallics and multicolored variegated floss. if you’ve been very good, perhaps someone will buy you a collection of all 460 colors of six-strand floss. That should keep you busy for a while!

Storing Your Cross Stitch Supply

Cross stitch fabrics should be stored in a cool dry place, such as a closet. Fabric shouldn’t be folded because permanent creases can result, so save up the cardboard rolls from wrapping paper and paper towels to roll your stash on. You can even write on the rolls what kind of fabric is wrapped on it (because you won’t remember when you finally want to use it).

Cross stitch thread can be stores in boxes or plastic bags. Like colors should be kept together so you know what you have available, and all threads should be stored together (put all the bags in one box, for instance) so you don’t have to go hunting. These, too, should be kept out of heat and direct sunlight. If you have a huge collection of floss, you might want to label each bag with the color numbers that are inside, so you will know at a glance if you have the colors you need or will have to go on another shopping trip!