Cross-stitch

Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used to form a picture. Other stitches are also commonly used in cross-stitch, among them, 1/4, 1/2 & 3/4 stitches and backstitches. Cross stich is usually executed on easily countable evenweave fabric, or more rarely on non-countable fabric, on which a countable fabric is aplied that is removed later, by drawing out every thread of it under the embroidery. The stitcher counts the threads in each direction so that the stitches are of uniform size and appearance.
This form of cross stich is also called counted cross stitch in order to distinguish it from other forms of cross stich. Sometimes cross stich is also done on designs printed on the canvas, showing every single cross.

Modern cross stich

description of the technique

Cross-stitch embroiderers frequently use an even-weave fabric of linen or cotton and work from charts on graph paper. Cross-stitching can also be done on a specialty Aida cloth that is available in 11, 14, 16, 18, and 22 count sizes. The sizes of Aida and Evenweave types of denote the approximate number of fibers in an inch. Special vinyl weaves and perforated paper products are also available. The size of a piece of embroidery can be changed by using a fabric with another count size.

Today cotton embroidery floss is the most usual thread. It is a thread made of mercerised cotton, made of six strands that are only loosely twisted together and easily separable. Other materials used are pearl cotton, danish flower thread and several different threads made of silk or Rayon. Danish flower thread is especially popular for nature motifs which originally came from Denmark. Sometimes different wool threads, metallic threads or other specialty threads are used, sometimes for the whole work, sometimes for accents and embellishments.

Thread size is usually chosen so that the stiches cover the fabric completely, creating a tapestry-like effect. But especially in monocrome work the thread can also be chosen a bit thinner, so that the individual crosses can be recognised as such and let the fabric show through a bit. The latter possibility can look nice in monochrome patterns and in combination with Blackwork.

Uses

Today cross stitch is the most popular form of embroidery as a hobby in the western world. It lends itself well to recreational use because it's easy to learn and very versatile. There are patterns availiable for almost every taste, and even beginners can crate beautiful stichery with some patience.

Traditionally cross stich was used to to embellish things like dishwear, household linnen, doilies and similar, half useful, half ornamental items. This use is still popular, especially in europe. But often cross stich is used to make pieces that are meant to be framed and hung as pictures. On items for daily use, usually only small areas are embroidered. The pictures can either have an unembroidered background or be completely covered with stiches.

There are cross-stitching 'guilds' in various cities of the USA and other countries that propagate knowledge about cross-Stitch and give stichers the opportunity to meet people with the same interest. Often they also offer lessons. Sometimes these guilds do collaborative works that would be too big for one sticher.

Designs

Modern cross stich designs often makes extensive use of colours in many shades. When using fine fabric and thread this can create very realistic effects, almost like paintings, if that is desired. The look of such opulent designs is somewhat related to Berlin wool work, although the subjects are more varied and sometimes more modern. Others prefer more stylised patterns with less colours, which may go well with modern furniture, but also may be suggestive of traditional patterns.

Often cross stitch is combined with other popular forms of embroidery, such as Hardanger embroidery or Blackwork embroidery.
A fairly recent development is the use of other stiches in cross stich work, in this context called special stitches, in order to create new visual effects and satisfy the wishes of keen stichers who may find pure cross stich boring after a while. These may be stiches from surface embroidery, canvas embroidery or even drawn thread work and other more unusual brances of embroidery. Also beadwork and other embellishments like paillettes and specialty threads of various kinds are becoming more popular.
This development, new as it may seem is in fact a reinvention. In earliest times, cross-stitch was often used as one of many different stiches.

Especially in the USA there are many cross-stitch designers who sell their patterns under their names and are well-known among stichers. Many of them maintain websites and keep in touch with possible customers, although usually the patterns are sold by shops and other distributors. Other patterns are published in cheap magazines, especially patterns done by native designers in Europe.

Cross-stitch design has become possible for many hobby embroiderers with the advent of cross-stitch design computer software. Thus it can be a form of crative expression rather than just copying the patterns of someone else.

Related stiches and forms of embroidery

Cross stich was often used together with other stiches. It is sometimes used in Crewel Embroidery, especially in it's more modern derivatives. Also it's often used in needlepoint.

A specialized historical form of embroidery using cross-stitch is Assisi Embroidery.

There are many stiches which are related to cross stich and were used in similar ways in earlier times. The best known are Italian cross stitch, long-armed cross stich and montenegrin stich. Italian cross stich and montenegrin stich are reversible, that means the work looks the same on both sides. They have a slightly different look than regular cross stich. Two-sided cross stich looks exactly like regular cross stich, but is also reversible. The reversible stiches are more difficult and time-consuming, and use more thread. All those stiches are rarely used in mainstream embroidery, but they are still used to recreate historical pieces of embroidery or by the creative and adventurous sticher.

Berlin wool work and similar petit point stichery resembles the heavily shaded, opulent styles of cross stich, and sometimes also used charted patterns on paper.

History

Cross-stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and can be found all over the world. Many folk museums show examples of clothing decorated with cross stitch, especially from continental Europe and the Orient. But mulitcoloured, shaded,painting-like patterns as we know them today are an invention of the last two centuries.