Sewing Definitions — stitches, seams, quilting and sewing terms from Apparel Search
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 alongside it, among them quarter, half and three-quarter stitches and backstitches. Cross-stitch is usually executed on easily countable evenweave fabric; the stitcher counts the threads in each direction so the stitches are of uniform size and appearance. It is also called counted cross-stitch to distinguish it from stamped cross-stitch, worked on designs printed on the canvas showing every single cross.
This form of cross-stitch is also called counted cross-stitch in order to distinguish it from other forms of cross-stitch. Sometimes cross-stitch is also done on designs printed on the canvas, showing every single cross (stamped cross-stitch).
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 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 stitches cover the fabric completely, creating a tapestry-like effect. But especially in monochrome work the thread can also be chosen a bit thinner, so that the individual crosses can be recognized as such and let the fabric show through a bit. The latter possibility can look nice in monochrome patterns and in combination with Blackwork.
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 available for almost every taste, and even beginners can create beautiful stitchery with some patience.
Traditionally cross-stitch was used to embellish things like dishwear, household linen, doilies and similar, half useful, half ornamental items. This use is still popular, especially in Europe. But often cross-stitch 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 stitches.
There are cross-stitching "guilds" in various cities of the USA and other countries that propagate knowledge about cross-stitch and give stitchers 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 stitcher.
Modern cross-stitch designs often makes extensive use of colors 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 colors, 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 stitches in cross-stitch work, in this context called special stitches, in order to create new visual effects and satisfy the wishes of keen stitchers who may find pure cross-stitch boring after a while. These may be stitches from surface embroidery, canvas embroidery or even drawn thread work and other more unusual branches 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 stitches.
Especially in the USA there are many cross-stitch designers who sell their patterns under their names and are well-known among stitchers. 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.
Cross-stitch was often used together with other stitches. It is sometimes used in Crewel Embroidery, especially in its more modern derivatives. It is also often used in needlepoint.
A specialized historical form of embroidery using cross-stitch is Assisi Embroidery.
There are many stitches which are related to cross-stitch and were used in similar ways in earlier times. The best known are Italian cross-stitch, long-armed cross-stitch, and Montenegrin stitch. Italian cross-stitch and Montenegrin stitch are reversible, that means the work looks the same on both sides. They have a slightly different look than regular cross-stitch. Two-sided cross-stitch looks exactly like regular cross-stitch, but is also reversible. The reversible stitches are more difficult and time-consuming, and use more thread. All those stitches are rarely used in mainstream embroidery, but they are still used to recreate historical pieces of embroidery or by the creative and adventurous stitcher.
Berlin wool work and similar petit point stitchery resembles the heavily shaded, opulent styles of cross-stitch, and sometimes also used charted patterns on paper.
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 multicolored, shaded, painting-like patterns as we know them today are an invention of the last two centuries.
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cross-stitch). Modified by Apparel Search 1/31/05. |
Cross-stitch turns a grid into an image. The fabric provides the grid: evenweave cloth has the same number of threads per inch in each direction, and each cross is worked over one square of that grid, or over a set number of threads, so thousands of identical X-shaped units accumulate into shading, lettering and pictures. Working from a chart on graph paper, the stitcher matches each symbol on the chart to a thread colour and counts squares across and down. Accuracy is counting accuracy: a stitch placed one thread out shifts everything that follows it, which is why stitchers work outward from the centre of both chart and fabric.
Aida cloth makes the counting easier by weaving its threads into visible blocks with obvious holes, in counts from 11 to 22 squares per inch. The count controls the finished size and fineness of a design: the same chart worked on 11-count Aida produces a large, bold picture, and on 22-count a piece a quarter of the area with far finer detail. Thread is chosen to match, thick enough that the crosses cover the fabric completely for a tapestry-like effect, or slightly thinner in monochrome work where letting the fabric show between recognisable crosses is part of the look.
Pure cross-stitch can render blocky shapes well but struggles with curves and fine lines, so modern designs add fractional stitches. Quarter, half and three-quarter stitches occupy part of a square, letting two colours share one square diagonally and smoothing the edge of a curve. Backstitch is then worked over the finished crosses to outline shapes, add lettering and supply details too fine for whole crosses, such as facial features or whiskers. Designers also combine cross-stitch with special stitches, beadwork, metallic threads and specialty fibres for texture, a development with old roots: historically cross-stitch was often used as one stitch among many, in crewel embroidery, needlepoint and the historical Assisi embroidery, which uses cross-stitch for the background and leaves the motif unstitched.
Related historical stitches extend the family. Italian cross-stitch, long-armed cross-stitch and Montenegrin stitch were used in similar ways in earlier times, and Italian and Montenegrin stitches are reversible, looking the same on both sides, at the cost of more time and thread. Berlin wool work and petit point resemble the heavily shaded, opulent styles of modern cross-stitch and likewise used charted patterns on paper, an early sign that the chart, as much as the stitch, defines the craft.
Cross-stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and is found all over the world; folk museums hold many examples of clothing decorated with it, especially from continental Europe and the Orient. The multicoloured, shaded, painting-like patterns familiar today are, however, an invention of the last two centuries. Traditionally the stitch embellished household linen, doilies and dishwear; today it is the most popular form of hobby embroidery in the western world, used for framed pictures as much as for usable items, supported by guilds, magazines, independent designers and design software that lets any stitcher chart a pattern of their own.
Cross-stitch is a form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches form a picture. The stitcher counts threads on evenweave fabric so the stitches are uniform in size and appearance.
Cross-stitch is worked on evenweave linen or cotton, commonly Aida cloth in 11, 14, 16, 18 and 22 count sizes. The usual thread is cotton embroidery floss, made of six loosely twisted, easily separable strands.
In counted cross-stitch the design is followed from a chart on graph paper and counted onto blank evenweave fabric. In stamped cross-stitch the design is printed directly on the fabric, showing every cross to be stitched.