Cross Stitch for Beginners: Start Your First Project

Cross stitch is one of the easiest needlework crafts to learn. The basic stitch is just two diagonal stitches crossing each other — it takes about 10 minutes to pick up the motion. What trips up most beginners isn't the stitching itself, it's the planning: buying the wrong fabric size, running out of floss, or starting a pattern that's too complex for a first project.

This guide walks through everything from supplies to your first finished piece.


What You Need to Start

Fabric

For your first project, use **14-count Aida cloth**. It's the standard fabric for cross stitch — white, natural, or cream, available in every craft store. The count tells you how many stitches fit per inch (14 stitches per inch on 14ct).

The most important thing about fabric: buy enough. Your pattern will list a stitch count like "80 × 80 stitches." On 14ct, that's 80 ÷ 14 = 5.7 inches of design. But you need margins around the design to hold it in a hoop and later to mount and frame it. Add at least 3 inches on each side — so your fabric should be at least 11.7" × 11.7", and you'd buy a 12" or 14" piece to be safe.

Use the [cross stitch calculator](/cross-stitch-calculator) to find the exact size. Enter your pattern's stitch width and height, choose "14 Count Aida," and the calculator tells you how much fabric to buy.

Floss

DMC mouliné stranded cotton is the standard. It comes in 500+ colors, is sold in every craft store, and the color numbers are used on almost every cross stitch pattern. Each skein is 8.7 yards. On 14-count Aida, you use 2 strands (the thread separates into 6 strands; you pull out 2).

For a small first project (80 × 80 stitches, 5–6 colors), you'll typically need 1 skein of each color. The [floss estimator](/cross-stitch-calculator) gives you a more precise count if you know the stitch density.

Needle

A tapestry needle — blunt tip, large eye. Size 24 is right for 14ct Aida. The blunt tip slides through the Aida holes without splitting the fabric threads. The large eye makes it easy to thread 2 strands. A pack of 6 costs about $3.

Hoop

A 6-inch or 8-inch wooden embroidery hoop holds the fabric taut while you stitch. Tighter fabric = easier stitching. Wooden hoops grip better than plastic. A 6-inch wooden hoop costs $4–6 and works for most beginner projects.

Remove the fabric from the hoop when you're not stitching — leaving it clamped for days leaves a ring mark on the fabric.

Scissors

Any small, sharp scissors work. Embroidery scissors (the tiny crane-shaped ones) are satisfying to use but not required. You just need something that cuts thread cleanly without fraying.

Choosing Your First Pattern

**Start small.** A pattern between 40 × 40 and 100 × 100 stitches is perfect for a first project. Large patterns take months; small ones take a few evenings and give you a satisfying finished piece quickly.

**Choose a pattern with limited colors.** 5–8 colors is manageable. A pattern with 40 colors is not a beginner project.

**Look for simple shapes and solid areas.** Geometric patterns, simple icons, and single-motif designs (a small flower, a letter, a simple animal) stitch up quickly and show clear progress. Complex photorealistic landscapes are for experienced stitchers.

Good places to find beginner patterns:

- DMC's free pattern library (dmc.com)

- Stitchfiddle.com (free patterns and a pattern converter)

- Pinterest (search "easy cross stitch pattern free")

- Etsy (many $3–5 PDF patterns from independent designers)

Reading the Pattern

Cross stitch patterns are grid charts. Each square represents one stitch. Each symbol or color block corresponds to a DMC color number in the key. The key is usually printed beside or below the chart.

Your first job: find the stitch count. It's usually on the pattern cover or key as "Stitch count: 80w × 80h" or similar. That's your width and height in stitches. Enter those numbers in the [cross stitch fabric calculator](/cross-stitch-calculator) to plan your fabric purchase.

**Find the center of the chart.** Most printed patterns mark the center with arrows along the edges or a cross-hair symbol in the middle. Start stitching from the center of the fabric and work outward — this keeps the design centered.

Making Your First Stitch

Set up: fabric in the hoop, taut but not overstretched. Thread your needle with 2 strands of floss about 18 inches long. (Longer threads tangle more easily.)

**Starting without a knot (the loop start):**

If you're using 2 strands, try the loop method: cut one long strand, fold it in half. Thread the folded end through the needle eye so the loop hangs at the bottom. Make your first stitch: come up through hole A, go down through hole B. Before pulling through completely, pass the needle through the loop. Pull snug. Your thread is anchored without a knot.

**The stitch itself:**

A cross stitch is two diagonal stitches forming an X over one Aida square. Bottom-left to top-right first (the bottom diagonal), then top-left to bottom-right (the top diagonal). The top diagonal should always face the same direction across the entire piece.

**Working in rows:** For large solid areas, stitch a row of bottom diagonals first (left to right), then come back right to left completing the top diagonals. This is faster than stitching individual crosses.

**Ending a thread:** When you have about 4 inches of thread left, don't tie a knot. Run the needle under the backs of 4–6 existing stitches in a zigzag, then trim the tail.

Your First Project Step by Step

1. Find a simple pattern (40–80 stitches per side, 5–8 colors)

2. Note the stitch count and enter it in the [calculator](/cross-stitch-calculator) to find your fabric size

3. Buy fabric (Aida 14ct), floss (all colors at once to match dye lots), a needle, and a hoop

4. Fold the fabric in quarters to find the center, mark lightly with water-soluble marker

5. Mount in the hoop with the center point visible

6. Find the center of the chart — start stitching there

7. Work one color at a time, or one section at a time — whatever feels natural

8. When finished, remove from hoop, wash gently, block flat to dry

9. Frame or mount as desired

Common Beginner Questions

**What if I make a mistake?** Use a seam ripper or blunt needle to carefully pull out the stitches. Aida is forgiving — small areas can be re-stitched without it showing.

**Why does my floss knot up?** Use strands no longer than 18 inches. Let the needle drop and dangle periodically to untwist the thread. Don't pull the floss too tight.

**How do I know when to switch colors?** Stitch one color, anchor the thread, cut. Start the next color fresh. Don't carry threads across large unstitched areas — they show through on pale fabric.

**Can I use any floss brand?** DMC is standard because patterns list DMC color numbers. Anchor and Madeira make equivalent threads with their own numbering systems — conversion charts are available online. For your first project, stick with DMC to keep it simple.

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Once you've done a few small projects, you'll want to scale up. Our [guide to fabric counts](/blog/cross-stitch-fabric-counts) helps you move beyond 14ct Aida, and the [DMC floss guide](/blog/dmc-floss-guide) helps with larger thread purchases. Use the [cross stitch calculator](/cross-stitch-calculator) before buying supplies for any project — it saves time and money.

Still wondering about the tools and formulas behind this site? Visit our [About page](/about) to learn how it works.