Haunted House 3D Cross Stitch instructions - Haunted McKenzie House Design

This is a guide for the 3D Haunted House Kit or Pattern available in my Etsy shop.

If you have additional questions please contact me directly.

Step 1 – Prep Canvas 

(note - if you purchased the kit you can skip this step as it's already been done for you)

All pieces needed for this pattern can be completed using a single sheet of 8.25 x 11 14 count plastic canvas. 

There are two methods for stitching on canvas

1.       Measure and cut out all pieces prior to stitching. If you choose this method remember – measure twice cut once!

2.       Complete the stitching and then cut the pieces after. If you do select this method be careful when cutting to ensure you do not cut any stitches. Also ensure you leave a blank hole between designs to cut once you are completed.

You can also do a combination of the two methods, such as not cutting out the peaks on the sides of the house until the stitching is complete.

Step 2 – Stitching (3 strands)

Refer to the individual patterns to complete the stitching. All stitches are full cross stitch using 3 strands of floss. New to cross stitch - here's how to make a Full Cross Stitch
There are 5 patterns which will be 6 completed pieces

·         The front of the house

·         2 sides of the house

·         The back of the house

·         The roof is a single pattern, to be completed twice

·         The base of the house does not need to be stitched

I recommend stitching corner to corner, and not starting in the middle of the pattern. 

All stitches are completed within the holes in the canvas, do not stitch over the edges. This will result in a white boarder around each piece. This is correct.

The front and the back of the house are complete squares so you can start stitching on any corner.

Don’t pull too hard when stitching, you don’t want to rip the canvas, especially when stitching around the edges.

 Step 3 – Assembling the house

To assemble the house, you will use two stitching methods, a side stitch, and a finishing stitch.

Start and finish these stitches by tucking the tails in the back under the stitches, the same as you start and finish a standard cross stitch. Tip: you can tuck the ends under the stitches already completed on the pieces.

Side Stitch – Use the side stitch to connect one piece to another one

Pull the floss up the lowest hole on your first piece (back to front)

Insert the floss into the second hole on the connecting piece (front to back). You are stitching up the side, not to the hole directly across.

Pull the floss through the second hole on the first piece (back to front)

Continue stitching as required.

Finishing Stitch - Use a finishing stitch for the edges of pieces that are not connected to another one.

Pull the floss up through the first available hole (back to front)

Go over the edge of the piece and pull up the floss on the next hole. (back to front)

Continue stitching as required

Connect the Walls – (6 strands using DMC 413 – Pewter Gray Dk floss)

1.      Use the side stitch to connect the front of the house and one side. Once you have reached the top of the front piece, use a finishing stitch to the top of the peak on the side piece. Do not stitch down the back side of the peak.

2.       Repeat step 1 attaching the second side piece to the front of the house.

3.       Use a finishing stitch over the top row of the front of the house

4.       Using the side stitch, attach the sides of the house to the back of the house, stopping at the top of the back of the house. Do not stitch the peak sloping towards the back of the house

Connect the Bottom of house

Using the side stitch (6 strands of DMC 895 – Hunter Green – vy dk) attach the front wall to the blank bottom canvas piece

Using the side stitch (6 strands of DMC 413 – Pewter Gray Dk floss) attach the remaining three walls to the bottom canvas piece 

Tip - for finishing off the final stich pull the thread inside the house and then pass under existing stitches. This is probably the most awkward part, and it helps if you have a bit of a longer tail to work with.

Connect the roof (6 strands using DMC 413 – Pewter Gray Dk floss)

1.       Using the side stitch, attach one of the roof pieces to the side of the house, sloping down towards the back. (the slope that there is no finishing stitch).

Note – there are more holes on the roof piece than on the slope of the house. Line up the pieces and double up on some of the holes on the slope. At the end the roof piece will hang over the back of the house by about 3 full rows of stitches.

2.       Use a finishing stitch on the bottom of the roof piece.

3.       Using the side stitch, complete the back roof by attach the other side of the roof piece to the slope on the other side piece.

4.       Using the side stitch, attach the second roof piece to the first roof piece at the top peak of the house. 

5.       Use a finishing stitch around the other three sides. You do not attach the front roof slope to the side of the house, that allows you to open and close it!

Stand back and enjoy your finished work, you deserve it!