Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cross stitcher, kits are a great option. They give you all the supplies you need, so that you don't have to go and search for each item. But not all cross stitch kits are the same. Here is a brief description of each kind, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Everyone has different preferences, so try each type of kit and find the type that you like best.
What is it? It's called counted cross stitch because you have to count the number of squares on a piece of blank Aida cloth in order to figure out where to place your stitches. You place the stitches on the cloth by following a pattern or chart that has symbols on each square. Each symbol represents a different colour of thread to use and each square represents a square on the cloth. To figure out where to place the stitches, find the middle spot on both your chart and on your cloth. Start stitching in the middle and work your way out to the edges.
Advantage: Most cross stitchers prefer this type because they don't have to worry about matching their stitches to a printed background, which may not line up with the squares on their cloth.
Disadvantage: If you loose count of your stitches, you could place a stitch in the wrong spot. The only way to tell if you have made a mistake is to compare the placement of the stitches on the cloth to the symbols on your chart. If they don't match, then you have to find out where you made your mistake.
What is it? With stamped cross stitch, the design is printed, or "stamped", onto the aida cloth. It is printed in colour. Simply match the colour of the thread to the colour on the cloth to know where to place your stitches.
Advantage: You don't need to read a chart or pattern to know where to place your stitches. This can reduce the number of errors made, compared to counted cross stitch.
Disadvantage: It can be hard to distinguish between similar colours. It is best to work with a simple design that only has a few colours that are not similar.
What is it? Embellished cross stitch also has a printed design on cloth. The difference between embellished and stamped cross stitch, is that you are only stitching small areas on the cloth. These stitches act as highlights or embellishments on the cross stitched piece.
Advantage: It is faster to complete an embellished cross stitch kit than any other kit of a similar size, since you don't need to stitch the entire area.
Disadvantage: Often the printed design is on an angle. This makes it hard to match up your stitches with the print on the cloth, giving your finished piece a slightly distorted look. If you do buy an embellished cross stitch kit, try to find one that has no blank spots for stitching so that it won't be as noticeable when the stitches and print don't line up.
What is it? Here, only the outlines of figures and shapes are printed on a cloth. Simply fill in the spaces between the outlines with stitches; a chart shows you which colours to use for each space. In these types of kits, there is no counting and no matching of thread to the colour on the cloth.
Advantage: It's faster than counted cross stitch, since you are not having to count to figure out where to place your stitches.
Disadvantage: It can be hard to figure out which colour to use when an outline crosses in the middle of a square.
Ready to see which kits you like best? Then check out our wonderful selection of Cross Stitch Kits. Go for a small kit you can finish in a weekend or go for one that's large and impressive!
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