• 2019 SAL
  • ~ My Favorite Cross Stitch Supplies & Tools ~
  • Tutorials & Reports
    • Tips for Stitching on Black Fabric
    • Cross Stitching Over Two on Evenweave or Linen Fabrics
    • How to Use Counting Pins
    • How to Make the French Knot Easier
    • More Articles and Resources
    • Printable Sheets
  • Newsletter
  • About
    • Contact Loretta
    • Be Our Guest
    • Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities
    • What I’m Cross Stitching
  • Gallery
  • Services
  • Facebook Group

Stitching the Night Away

Cross Stitch

  • Fabric Calculator
  • Pattern Shop
  • Free Patterns
  • Product Reviews
  • Stitchqueries
  • Printable Sheets

Preparing Your Fabric for Stitching

The first step to stitching is preparing your fabric and you don’t know what to do if it’s your first time doing this right? So here are a few ideas and tips to help you get started.

First make sure you have the right size fabric. Most kits come with fabric in them so that part is done for you, however, measure the fabric anyway to be 100% sure. If you bought just a pattern and supplies separate you want to measure your fabric. Now, most patterns will tell you what size fabric you need …. important thing to remember are that your design will be different sizes on different counts of fabric.

Also if you stitching on linen or even weave your design size will change if you are going over one thread or over two threads of the fabric. You may need to use a fabric calculator. There are several gadgets you can buy at your local needlework shop or you can use an online version (easily found by doing a search for “fabric calculator” or “cross stitch fabric calculator” in your favorite search engine.)

Remember before cutting that is always better to measure multiple times than it is to cut the wrong size and bigger is better than smaller. You will want to leave 2 or 3 inches on all sides for finishing/framing your work when you’re done as well so don’t forget to add that extra space.

Now your wondering about those edges…they are so out there and exposed aren’t they? You certainly don’t want fraying to occur while you work. There are a number of things you can do to prevent fraying. One of the easiest ways is to use Fray Check (found at your needlework suppliers online and offline) which is a liquid that you simply dab on the edges and once dry it sort of “glues” them so they don’t fray but it will NOT harm your fabric in any way.

Another way of edging your fabric is to serge the edges on your sewing machine or serger. (Mini sergers work great for this task!) Just run an overcast stitch the whole way around your fabric and ta-da you’re ready to go! A third and classic way to edge your fabric is to simply baste it with a sturdy thread. Just do a basic basting stitch by hand (up, down, up, down) the whole way around the outside edge of the fabric to hold it in place. While more time consuming than the other two ways it still serves the basic purpose.

Now you’re almost ready …. one more thing to do! Find the center of your fabric. The easiest way to do this? Fold it of course! Fold in half lengthwise, unfold, fold widthwise, unfold and where your fold lines meet is the center of your fabric and your first reference point for stitching.

Happy Stitching and enjoy your new hobby!


Loretta Oliver, EzineArticles.com Basic PLUS Author

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or sharing on your favorite social network. Thank you!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Articles and Resources

About Loretta

Passionate stitcher. Mom of four amazing young men. Wife to a comic book geek who makes me smile every day. Transcriptionist by trade. Gluten-free by necessity. Writer at heart. Seeker of knowledge and reader of novels. Dreamer of big colorful creative dreams.

Comments are always welcome and appreciated.... Cancel reply

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Amazon

Don’t Miss a Stitch!

Your cart is empty
Visit The Shop

Bits of Thread from Our Sponsors:


Free Cross Stitch Fabric Calculator Apps on the web, available for iPhone, Android, and Kindle
==> Click here for app info!

Categories

Featured Freebies at FreeXStitch.com: Free Cross Stitch Patterns

Wendy’s Owl from Ship’s Manor

Wendy’s Owl from Ship’s Manor

Dragonfly and Butterfly Free Cross Stitch Patterns from The World in Stitches

Dragonfly and Butterfly Free Cross Stitch Patterns from The World in Stitches

Free Guide to Evenweaves

Download this free guide about how to cross stitch on evenweaves and linens

If you haven't taken the plunge from aida fabric to evenweave fabric, now is the time to do so.

Expand your project options and enjoy something new.

retta719

cross stitcher ✂, writer ✍️ , transcriptionist ⌨️, dabbler in all things creative ✂ , mom, wife, finder of lost shoes....

retta719
Project stitched by Alexis Krobatsch added to the Project stitched by Alexis Krobatsch added to the album of finished cross stitch for the 2019 Stitching the Night Away Stitchalong⁠
⁠
The free cross stitch pattern is available at https://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/2019-sal/⁠
⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightaway⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightawaysal⁣⁠
#stitchalong⁣⁠
#crossstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#xstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchstagram⁣⁠
#instastitch⁠
#crossstitching⁣⁠
#crossstitch
Project stitched by Dawn Middleton added to the al Project stitched by Dawn Middleton added to the album of finished cross stitch for the 2019 Stitching the Night Away Stitchalong⁠
⁠
The free cross stitch pattern is available at https://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/2019-sal/⁠
⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightaway⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightawaysal⁣⁠
#stitchalong⁣⁠
#crossstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#xstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchstagram⁣⁠
#instastitch⁠
#crossstitching⁣⁠
#crossstitch⁠
Project stitched by Julie Cockerton with Jodyri De Project stitched by Julie Cockerton with Jodyri Designs variegated threads added to the album of finished cross stitch for the 2019 Stitching the Night Away Stitchalong⁠
⁠
The free cross stitch pattern is available at https://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/2019-sal/⁠
⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightaway⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightawaysal⁣⁠
#stitchalong⁣⁠
#crossstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#xstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchstagram⁣⁠
#instastitch⁠
#crossstitching⁣⁠
#crossstitch⁠
Project stitched by Denise Kelly with DMC Satin Fl Project stitched by Denise Kelly with DMC Satin Floss added to the album of finished cross stitch for the 2019 Stitching the Night Away Stitchalong⁠
⁠
The free cross stitch pattern is available at https://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/2019-sal/⁠
⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
.⁣⁠
⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightaway⁣⁠
#stitchingthenightawaysal⁣⁠
#stitchalong⁣⁠
#crossstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#xstitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchersofinstagram⁣⁠
#stitchstagram⁣⁠
#instastitch⁠
#crossstitching⁣⁠
#crossstitch⁠
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy for Stitching the Night Away
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2001–2021 Loretta Oliver & Stitching the Night Away
...
I may be an affiliate for products that are recommended throughout this website and as such if you purchase those items through links on this site it may result in me earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made there. This website and its author are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.