It looked so simple on the box! Cross stitch [hmm]

Bikergran I took up cross stitch 4 years ago . Wish I had done it decades before. Could never understand how crosses would make picture. I love it it's so relaxing. I mainly use 14 count Aida. Have used 16 and 18. Tried evenweave but couldn't get on with it. I brought a little kit off Amazon . Made many mistakes. But was hooked. I then brought cross stitcher magazine and did the free kit that comes with every issue. The biggest thing I have made was a Triumph motor bike for my brother's 60 th birthday. Took me 3 months almost 28,000 crosses. No back stitch.

I know some people don't like back stitching but it's what makes the design come to life.

I subscribe to cross stitcher and the world of cross stitching.

I suggest you buy a magazine and try again. The world of cross stitching has readers work in it and has many small designs. I buy my Aida buy the metre of e bay as it's the cheapest but good quality and British made. I use DMC threads only 68p from lakeside needlecraft

I've chuckled my way through this Brilliant thread (see what I did there?)

Think I borrowed some books from the library and made these. Maybe as others have said, start off with little kit that usually has everything in, plus they are small enough to complete.

Thanks lynx

I did once make a couple of cross stitch cards from kits that came with a magazine.
They looked a bit wonky when finished so I didn't send them to anyone.

The comments above have given me a chuckle today, sorry and thank you! I have cross stitched for years but still remember the initial panics. Just follow the instructions and don't give up.
Aida fabric is woven with holes to put the needle through, 14 count has 14 holes per inch and is usually the best for beginners. Good luck to those starting new projects.

Luckylegs maybe have a google/youtube beginners cross stitch.

I'm going to have another go but something smaller.

I once made a little fisherman and a cat holding a mouse.I will look out for it, I found them in my mums photo album, I had forgotten I had made them many years ago.

Isn’t it funny how a subject comes up on GN just when you happened to have embarked on something? I have today been given a magazine and a small kit by a kind neighbour to try to interest myself in something other than cleaning and my iPad!

I’m going to go to a sewing shop to get the stuff. I have no idea what an aida is, or half stitches! Do I have to bone up on all this first?

I've just completed my first cross stitch project - my eldest GDs name, 5 letters, from a chart. I realised pretty soon that sewing the first letter without a magnifier thingy, together with a glass or two of wine in front of the tv is not a good idea. Off to Hobbycraft the following day. Trouble is the second GD has seen it, and wants one too.

Nanagem not really sure what the end product was, I did think I could make it into a doorstop. But seeing as though It's now back in the box, who knows lol.

it looks to be about 14 hpi so shouldn't be too difficult to do half x stitches.
That sounds like a foreign language to me!

I’ve been doing a cross stitch for my granddaughters bedroom. Finding it hard on my eyes. Just bought a magnifying glass that hangs round my neck to see if it makes things easier. Trying out later so will report back.

That looks a nice kit Callistemon, it looks to be about 14 hpi so shouldn't be too difficult to do half x stitches.
I nipped into a charity shop yesterday to look for a knitting pattern and noticed that their crafting section has a lot of half completed cross stitch kits and embroidery kits in stock! So we're not alone!

That’s a cute one Cally. Give it a go. ?

I bought this one years ago because it reminded me of DD.
I might try to do it for her 40th birthday! Occasionally I get it out and think 'oh, that's lovely', then it keeps getting put back in the box.

It looks simple enough if a little daunting to start with, pick one panel,the easiest to start with, bind the edge of your fabric and run a running stick dividing into 4 so you get your centre and work from there out.

What is the finished item used for , it’s sweet

If it makes you feel any better bikergran, when DIL was pregnant with GD, I bought a kit for a sampler of the alphabet for the nursery. Every letter had a little picture to represent each letter. I got to H and put it away in despair. When GS was on the way, I dug it out again and got to L. Which is where it still is. GD is 8 and GS is 4. And I've no idea where the sampler is!

Good Luck , and enjoy doing it. That’s the main thing. ?

I'm about to go on the site named after a famous river (no not the Nile) to look for a printed cross stitch picture to do for my baby grandson's wall. I did one years ago and it turned out ok but the eyes aren't what they used to be.......wish me luck!

DanniRae it went back in the box within about 10 mins lol.Didn't realize how much work was involved, I shall try a smaller kit next time

If it’s counted cross stitch it’s a longer project. You could start with a printed cross stitch, where the pattern is already on the aida fabric.
I’m always attracted by the finished ‘picture’ and some can be painstaking work.

I think as soon as I saw it was '3D' I would have walked away but you are probably more skilled in cross stitch than I am.
Having said that it is very cute.
Let us know how you get on

lol..

That's a shame bikergran, but if it's on smaller aida than a 14 hpi (holes per inch) I'd struggle now to see to do half x stitches without my magnifier and daylight lamp too. I've had several kits from that supermarket, the most recent being their needle felting kit to make a fox. The less said the better!

"realize"

Chewbacca Not sure what count it is I seem to think the tiny version. I have managed on row of half stitch then realized I had missed some holes its gone back in the box lol, I think it may be on it's way to a charity shop very soon.

Next time I shall stick to smaller project.Didn't realize how much work needs to go into it.

But a nice little kit, they even included the stuffing.