Gridding Cross Stitch Fabric

Hamsteren09

When stitching a large Cross Stitch project, one of the biggest frustrations is caused by making mistakes in placing stitches. One part of the design will end up being one space off. A row missed here will cause another part of the design to be askew.

To help avoid misplaced stitches, many stitchers baste a grid on the fabric that matches the 10x10 grid used for most Cross Stitch patterns.

Tips for successful gridding: Use a light-colored floss that will not leave fuzz or mar the fabric to create the grid. Many stitchers use quilting thread or silk floss.

Make the grid as elaborate or as simple as you need. Mark the corners or add more definition to the 10x10 box. You may even choose to grid your design in 5x5 boxes.

Match the grid on your fabric to the grid on the pattern.

(Some stitchers use a water soluble pen to mark the grid on fabric. Be very careful if you use this method. The pen may not all wash out. It may also fade over time if you are stitching a larger project.)

When removing gridding floss, use sharp scissors to snip away any strands of the grid which may have been pierced as you stitched.

RenXing

Small trick to wash out all the grid when using a soluble pen is using water + vinegar .All the grid will be gone even if it has been drawn for 4 months.My sister,my mom and me realize that soluble pen is very useful.It can help us to shorten the time in order to stitch a new one. :lol

babo4ka

I cannot do without gridding, even on the linen of 32 count. The best tool is a water-soluble ink pen (the one you get on Ali Express), they leave a very fine line and disappear completely upon soaking your completed project in a luke warm water for 30+ min.

SmallStitch

I have found that I can grid for full coverage using waxed hand quilting thread. Not quite as easy to remove as sulky sliver (frankly, I remove as I go), but much more widely available where I am.

Pcmesa

gracias por compartir

NIEVESSER

¡Muchas gracias!

liz0222

When starting a new work, one has to prepare too many pre-works, such as drawing grids.

Hamsteren09

When you draw the grids using water soluble pen, sometimes the colour may not all wash out or disappear after some times (read: years). When you grid with threads, then it stay as long as you want and when you pull out the treads, it wont leave stain, but of course dont use black (or other dark colour) thread on white fabric. Its a lot of work and counting mistake can happen as well. :(

liz0222

yes, I often count 9 grids instead of 10 grids.:(

Hamsteren09

I grid this fabric using metallic threads.

nadinex

I grid only when I am working very large projects like HAED

Hamsteren09

yes, me too. Although at this moment I just grid and havent found the courage to start ;P

csc0312

I never draw grid on the fabric, coz I never wash my finished crafts....:P

Hamsteren09

Me too. I also never wash my finished craft and although they said that the exposure to air can vanish the line as well.. somehow I just still able to see the lines (more psychological problem I think :D)