Needlework is an exciting, creative, interesting activity. One of the easiest types of handwork is cross stitch. Novice craftswomen spend a lot of time creating their masterpieces, which is why many people have the following questions:

preparation of materials;
organization of the work process;
secrets, tricks and nuances.
There are a number of manuals and videos that can guide “beginners” on the right path.

How to quickly learn to cross stitch
Starting the process, I want to quickly see the end result, but alas, in fact, embroidery takes a lot of time. There are a number of factors that determine the duration of the process:

experience;
design;
color palette;
canvas markup;
properly equipped workflow.
Experience in this type of activity is, of course, a determining factor in the speed of work. But it does not matter if there are no skills yet, everything will come with time, the main thing is to obey the advice of professionals.

Good pattern design is also an important detail that affects the speed of the process. Speaking about colors, it is worth noting that it is easier and faster to embroider with dark tones than with light ones. But the main secret of increasing the pace of work is the markup of the canvas.

To do this, you need to make a photocopy of the diagram, in the center of which boldly draw vertical and horizontal lines. The rest of the scheme must be divided into squares, 10 cells each.

At the same time, the original remains untouched, the markup is made only on the copy. Then, by analogy, the canvas is swept.

For further marking, you will need gel pens of different colors, according to the palette in the diagram. On the copy, you should select and paint over in the appropriate tone those colors that occupy a larger number of squares, gradually working through the entire palette.

Handles must be selected in the color of the threads so that the marks do not show through from under the finished embroidered pattern. At this stage, the image will be almost invisible. It is better to sweep the center of the canvas in red, and sectors of 10 cells in black.

On cardboard, you need to cut out a square-window according to the size of the cells in the diagram (10×10) and the same for the canvas. Then one window is superimposed on the diagram, the other on the canvas, in the place where this square should be according to the image. Small dots, square by square, are gradually transferred on the material all the colors painted in the diagram.

It is more convenient to start work from the center. This will help avoid mistakes. When all the markings are applied to the fabric, the pattern will become visible.

It is better to mark unpainted areas in silver, since it does not shine through from under any tone of the thread.

The whole picture is embroidered by color, starting from silvery marks, and then along the palette – the most extensive areas. Having finished one color, you can proceed to the next, and so on until the end of the work.

The markup takes a lot of time, but the speed of embroidery will actually be an order of magnitude higher.

Helpful Hints
Experienced specialists know various tricks and secrets that they are happy to share with beginners. Here are some of them:

it is convenient to take your own needle for each color of thread;
apply markings with special water-soluble markers;
use the machine instead of the hoop;
take threads 20-25 centimeters long;
use an organizer for threads and needles;
it is better to embroider with two hands;
use double-sided needles with an eye in the center.
There is a type of needles with two sharp ends and an eye in the middle. The use of such a device allows you not to turn the needle over while embroidering, which significantly increases the pace.

How to cut a canvas
Any type of fabric, including canvas, has longitudinal and transverse threads. Some mistakenly assume that you need to place embroidery depending on whether the picture is horizontal or vertical. In fact, the location of the pattern should be repelled from the longitudinal thread: the canvas is correctly cut and cut when the master adheres to the shared thread.

This is important, since natural fabrics “shrink” after washing. And this happens precisely along the longitudinal thread. Compliance with such a simple rule is necessary to maintain the symmetry of the picture after washing. In addition, when making a picture in a frame, the process of stretching the canvas on the substrate will be greatly facilitated.

Defining a thread is pretty easy. Lobar – does not stretch, and transverse – slightly springy (stretches). It is worth taking care of allowances around the edges. It is better if they are about 3 centimeters.

Knots – tangling the thread
Periodically releasing the thread with the needle vertically down, it can be noted that the thread unwinds. This procedure prevents entanglement, reduces the likelihood knot formation.

But if a knot is nevertheless formed, you need to insert a needle between it and the resulting loop, and then pull hard until the needle is firmly in the loop. After that, it is necessary to remove the needle and with effort pull both ends of the thread in different directions. If it is not possible to get rid of the knot in this way, then the thread will have to be cut.

How to properly store finished embroidery

Finished work must be framed. Otherwise, the embroidery is wound on a cardboard tube (wrong side out). This will prevent the product from deforming. By shifting the roll with several layers of napkins or paper towels, it is easy to avoid burnout. In addition, the likelihood of staining the work will be minimal.

Cross-stitch is an ancient needlework that has not lost its appeal for craftswomen to this day.