Intro to Cross Stitching On Linen

Cross Stitching on Linen is a wonderful way to begin exploring the world of traditional counted embroidery. The simple Cross Stitch is one of the most familiar and versatile embroidery stitches, formed by two diagonal stitches that cross to make a neat little X. For centuries, stitchers the world over have used this technique to create beautiful samplers, decorative borders, pictures, and household linens. Working on linen gives your embroidery a lovely, traditional appearance and opens the door to many exciting specialty stitches that can be combined with ordinary cross stitches.

This basic course is designed for stitchers who are familiar with cross stitching on Aida fabric and would like to learn how to work the same crosses on linen. It's also a wonderful starting point for anyone who is new to counted embroidery. You'll enjoy step-by-step video lessons, along with helpful downloadable documents, including Stitching Basics and a special small cross stitch pattern designed to help you practise your new skills.

One of the pleasures of stitching on linen is discovering how easily you can work your stitches counting fabric threads instead of the holes (with little woven squares inside them) of Aida cloth. I'll show you how to recognize the weave of linen, count the fabric threads accurately, and place your stitches so they are neat and even. You'll also learn how to start and finish your threads, maintain comfortable tension, and keep the top stitches of your crosses going in the same direction for a beautiful, consistent finish. With a little practice, counting over two threads will soon become second nature!

If you've only stitched on Aida fabric before, you may think linen is intimidating, but as soon as you see how it works as I teach you the tricks of how to see the holes and the fabric threads, you'll see how easy it really is! Aida is specially woven to make cross stitching easy, while linen offers greater flexibility for working decorative counted stitches.

Join me as we explore Cross Stitching on Linen together, practising on a doodle cloth at your own pace. Enjoy building your confidence as you learn this essential counted embroidery skill, and feel free to share your stitching progress and finished work on social media. I'd love to see what you create!