What Is Cross Stitch

 Learn all about cross stitch and its history.  This is a easy needlecraft to learn with few required supplies.

Cross stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery in which "x" type stitches are made.  The materials required for cross stitch are few and inexpensive.  Basically all you will need is a piece of evenweave fabric, a tapestry needle, 6-strand cotton floss, scissors and a charted design.  You even have the option to crossstitch on a non-evenweave surface such as clothes, napkins, linens, etc..  In this case you would simply use a waste canvas.  Be sure to look over our cross stitch materials guide for an explanation of all the cross stitch fabrics you can choose from.

Generally, counted cross stitch is stitched on evenweave fabrics made of linen, cotton or a specialty cloth called aida.  Aida cloth can be purchased in various sizes such as, 11, 14, 16, 18 or 22 count.  The size of the fabric count will determine the finished size of your crosstitch design.  When using an evenweave fabric, you will simply  count over an equal number of threads down and across.  You will work a diagonal row of stitches in one direction.  Then stitch back the other way. 

Cross stitch kits are easily found at any crafts or needlework supplier.  Kits usually contain everything needed for a complete project,  including pre-printed patterns to follow.  Subversive cross stitch is probably the newest form of this needlecraft and is usually geared toward those who are a little more open-minded with their stitchery.  We will have a whole section on subversive cross stitching coming soon!   It's easy to learn how to cross stitch and the supplies needed are minimal.  The technique is very simple and in no way complicated.  Needlecrafts can be very relaxing, so go ahead......
"Create Something Today!"

History of Cross Stitch

6th / 7th Century - The earliest piece of embroidery included the cross stitch design and dates back to the sixth or seventh centuries AD.  Eastern Europe practiced cross stitch at this time.  It was primarily used to decorate household items using floral and geometric patterns that are still found in pattern books today.  The earliest piece of cross stitched cloth, was found in a Coptic tomb in Upper Egypt.  Cross stitch embroidery flourished during the Tang dynasty in China, then may have spread westward through the trades routes.

 756/1492 - Blackwork became popular in Spain, under the influence of Islamic civilization of the Moors.  This particular technique is thought to have influenced the development of cross stitch.  Blackwork is generally geometric design on white linen.  At that time, they used the wool from black sheep to stitch with.

1500's - Germany produced the earliest pattern book in 1524.  Before pattern books were available, stitchers would use long strips of narrow cloth to record their favorite samples.  This is where samplers were believed to originate.  The strips were rolled up and kept in a drawer until needed for reference.  Some of the samplers would contain samples of florals, animals and the alphabet.

1600's - It is believed that this craft was brought to England in the sixteenth century by Catherine of Aragon, the spanish wife of Henry Vlll.  The popularity of embroidery was helped by the invention of printing.  In the early pattern books, cross stitch patterns were printed as black squares or dots.

1700's - As pattern books became more available in Europe and America, the functions of the samplers changed.  They evolved into educational instruments for children to teach them needlework skills.  This was essential to young girls who would be making household linens and clothes.  The child were also taught literacy and numerology by stitching the alphabet and numbers.

1800's - This needlecraft flourished through out Germany, Britain, Holland and America.  The samplers became more decorative and creative.  By this time cross stitch has become the main stitch used.  Individual designs displayed events and objects in their own lives such as, houses, horses, local scenes, simple figures from the real world.   The first embroidery machine was invented in 1828 by Joseph Heilman. 

1900's - Sampler making and cross stitch went into a decline due to the invention of the embroidery machine.  As women began to acquire factory-made and machine embroidered clothing at reasonable prices, theirs skills went into decline.  Pre-stamped embroidery made it appearance throughout out the thirties, forties and fifties.

1960's to present - Cross stitch was rediscovered in the sixties when more leisure time was available.  Stitchers were working from charts and even some of the past traditional samplers.  Today, cross stitch is available with more designs and colors than ever.  Kits are complete, easy to follow and can be found just about anywhere.