Cross Stitch: A beginner's step-by-step guide to techniques and motifs

by Charlotte Gerlings

Overview

Presents the essentials of counted cross stitch with plenty of illustrations, plus a basic range of freestyle embroidery stitches to supplement the counted thread method. Get advice on how to read charts, and create your own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781565236844
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/01/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	749,882
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Charlotte Gerlings is an expert in several art mediums, including needlecraft and fabric arts. She graduated in Publishing from Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) and since then has worked as a book designer, writer and editor. She lives in South West London and is currently studying at Wimbledon School of Art for her MA in Fine Art. She is the author of several books, including Sewing, Patchwork, Cross Stitch, Knitting & Crochet, and 100 Great Artists.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Equipment and Materials Needles and fabrics Equipment Working with hoops and frames Needles Threads Fabrics and thread counts Calculating quantities Cross stitch charts and how to read them Charting your own design Blank cross stitch grids Readymades Part 2: Cross Stitch Methods and Techniques Thread organizer Preparing fabric Preparing threads Starting and fastening off Basic stitches The history of samplers Backstitch alphabet Popular sampler motifs Assisi work Heraldic beasts and mythical creatures Assisi-style alphabet Cross stitch variations Sans serif alphabet plus numerals Serif alphabet plus numerals Knot stitches Part 3: Stitchables Templates Greetings cards Decorative bands Working with plastic canvas Miniature designs Borders and corners Part 4: Basic Embroidery Stitches Basic embroidery stitches Script alphabet Washing, mounting and aftercare Terms and abbreviations