KAWU / one moment
Making space.
The next page is on its way.
cross-stitch
Tiny Cross-Stitch Sampler
decor
Make a small blue diamond from 41 counted crosses, then keep it in its hoop as a little wall decoration. The nine-row pattern uses one colour and gives you a clear way to practise counting, even tension, and keeping the top stitch consistent.
- Difficulty
- First timer
- Time to try
- 90 min
- Craft
- cross-stitch
The workbench
Gather your materials.
Materials
- 6 x 6 in 14-count Aida fabric
- one skein embroidery floss
- 4 in felt circle for the back
Tools
- size 24 tapestry needle
- 4 in embroidery hoop
- small scissors
- ruler
Skills
- counting
- cross stitch
- thread finishing
A first look
Follow the thread.
Find the stitch centre
Before putting the Aida in the hoop, fold it gently in half both ways and reopen it to find the centre. Choose the nearest fabric square as the centre stitch. Centre the fabric in the 4 inch hoop and tighten the screw until it lies flat without stretching.
About 8 minThread a comfortable length
Cut about 18 inches of floss and separate two strands. Thread the needle without knotting the tail; hold a short tail beneath the first few stitches on the back to anchor it.
About 7 minMake the first half-cross
Count four fabric squares straight up from the centre stitch. This square is the top point of the diamond. Bring the needle up at its lower-left hole and down at its upper-right hole. Then come up at the lower-right hole and go down at the upper-left hole to complete the first cross.
About 12 minComplete the crosses
Work downwards in nine centred rows containing 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 7, 5, 3, then 1 cross. For each wider row, start one square to the left of the row above; for each narrower row, start one square to the right. The fifth row has nine crosses and passes through the centre stitch. Make every lower-left to upper-right diagonal first so all top diagonals match.
About 28 minCheck the diamond
Count the rows again: the diamond is nine squares tall, nine squares wide at its middle, and has 41 crosses in total. If a row is offset, undo only that section and count from the row above. Leave the surrounding fabric blank.
About 16 minCheck the back
Pass the needle under three or four stitches on the back to secure each thread tail, then trim the excess. Keep the work centred in the hoop. Check that the fabric lies flat and loosen any stitch that pulls a square out of shape.
About 8 minFinish in the hoop
Trim the excess Aida into a circle about 1 inch beyond the hoop. With a fresh length of floss, sew running stitches around this loose edge and gently pull them to gather the fabric behind the hoop. Secure the thread, place the 4 inch felt circle over the back, and sew its edge to the gathered fabric with small stitches.
About 11 min