You're finally ready to make that first stitch on a new piece of fabric. What's the right location in which to start? The center of the cloth? The upper left? The lower right?

The design should be centered. Find the center of the fabric by folding it in half, then folding it in half the other way. Mark the center with a pin, a stitch, or some other method.

One of the few rules in counted cross stitch is that all the stitches should go in the same direction. It doesn't matter if the bottom half goes "/" and the top goes "", or vice versa. Just make sure that every stitch in the project is done the same way.

Stitchers who use the traditional method complete each X as they go:

Stitchers who use the Danish method do the bottom stitches first, and complete the X's as they return:

Many people use a mix of the two methods. They may use the Danish method for most stitches, but do the occasional isolated stitch as a complete X. Another school recommends doing rows with the Danish method and columns with the traditional method. This causes the thread on the back to make vertical lines.

Many people find the Danish method to be faster, and to result in less confusion about current location.

Choose a method which you like, preferably one which results in neat backs. While a neat back isn't required for a good looking front, it usually helps.

Copyright © 1994-2005 Kathleen Dyer