Learn the Faster, Easier Sewing Method of Cross Stitch

When your first learn cross stitch, you learn how to make one simple cross. Nothing could be easier, you think. Now you can just make one cross stitch after another until you're finished.

Well, you could. But I wouldn't recommend it. It is called the push and pull method, aka punch and poke, aka the stab method. I call it "one more step than I need to take!" The sewing method, demonstrated here, moves faster, works easier and you'll be glad you added this technique to your bag of tricks.

This is one case that eliminating a step actually improves the product.

The sewing method

1. Start your needle as usual, entering the fabric from the bottom at the beginning of a row.	2. Next, bring your needle across diagonally and push into the fabric at the top and out of the hole directly below in one stroke.
3. Do the same for the next diagonal stitch...	4. ...and the next.
5. When you reach the end of the row, cross your last stitch diagonally, with the needle entering at the top and coming out at the bottom in the hole directly below.	6. Now, just repeat the action in Step 5 until you cross your last diagonal stitch.
7. You're done! Your completed row should look like this...	8. ...and the back, or "wrong" side, should look like this.

If you want to compare the ease of this "better" method with the push and pull method, click here for the lesson on completing a row.

If you have a comment or question about this lesson, or if you would like to suggest a new one, please go to our Contact Us page. We promise not to use your email address for any other purpose.