New to cross stitch? Our handy guide will take you through all the basic techniques and stitches you need to get you started

THEESSENTIALKITYOU’LLNEEDTOSTARTSTITCHING

FABRICS

Aida is the ideal choice for cross stitch beginners – it is a block-weave fabric, which is divided into squares with a grid of holes. Each cross stitch is worked over one square. Aida comes in a range of sizes which are called counts. So 14 count means that there are 14 squares to the inch and this will make 14 cross stitches. Aida also comes in 16, 18 and 20 count. The larger the number, the more stitches to the inch and so the smaller the design will stitch up.

Evenweave is a woven grid of threads in a finer count. Each stitch is usually worked over two threads, so a 28 count evenweave with each stitch worked over two threads will mean your stitching will be the same size as if you stitched on 14 count aida. Fractional stitches are easier to work on evenweave, as there is a central hole so there is no need to split the block as with aida.