Making a full cross stitch

So how do you complete a stitch? For this guide we're going to do a full cross stitch using two strands, which is the most common stitch you'll use, especially starting out.

Pull your floss through one of the holes from the back to the front - do not pull the floss all the way though

Next pass the floss from the front to the back on a diagonal hole

On the back you are going to want to secure the floss, you do this by ensuring the floss tail will be trapped by the stitch

Now you are going to continue to make the slanted stitches for as many stitches as required

Once you have completed a row bring your floss up and cross over the existing stitch (cross over... cross stitch!)

Continue on until you have completed your row

Now that you have completed your row you can start on the next one. Once you have completed with a colour, or you are at the end of the floss you need to secure the end again. This is similar to the way we started.

Flip to the back again and pass the floss through about three stitches. Trim the ends being careful not to trim too close!

Tips and Common questions

• Some people prefer to stitch from left to right, some from right to left. There is no right or wrong way, whatever you are comfortable with. The only rule is to be consistent in your project so all your stitches are the same.
  
• be careful with your tension, you don't want the stitches to be loose, but not too tight that it pulls the fabric
• Never make a knot, by securing the floss ends under stitches you should never need a knot keeping your pattern nice and flat
• You don't need to keep switching your fabric from front to back while stitching. The only time you need to switch to the back side is when securing you floss ends (starting and ending)
• don't fret if your back is messy, especially when you are starting. You may often hear that a good cross stitch is when you can't tell the front from the back. If this is something you are striving to, or entering a competition then great, but if you are just starting or spending your evenings relaxing, I don't care what the back looks like. I will be adding a post in the future about this topic in more details, with my 2 cents.