What I Wish I'd Known When I Started Cross Stitch - Top Tips! | Caterpillar Cross Stitch

In this week's video, Ford talks through tips, tricks and hacks he wished someone had told him before he started stitching. Make your stitching life easier and discover essential craft tools! If you're new to flosstube and cross stitch, or more experienced, you'll find plenty of stitching ideas and inspiration here!

Leave me a COMMENT below - What do you wish someone had told you before you started stitching?

I post NEW VIDEOS every Monday at 7pm London time.

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ABOUT ME:

Thanks for visiting my channel, I hope you enjoyed the video! I founded Caterpillar Cross Stitch in 2015 when I tried desperately for months to find a modern baby sampler my mum could stitch for new baby Felicity that would fit in with her simple, contemporary nursery. I love cross stitch, running, baking fruit cakes, drinking gin, eating salted caramel ice cream and most crafts!

See you soon and happy stitching! Sally x

[sweetlorikeet]

The loop start is honestly such a game-changer.

[carolynward]

I am in my in my 60s and have been cross stitching since I was in elementary school. This is the first time I've heard of using the loop method to secure your thread. Mind officially blown! What a game changer.

[sherryzimmerman]

THIS A MUST Tutorial for beginners and a great reminder for those of us who may have forgotten some things…..my TIP is to just relax if Your cross stitching mojo seems to slow down…..or even disappear…….after making a number of biscornus for my Grandchildren’s Legacy boxes for their Birthdays I was out of ANY mindful cross stitching…, , so I picked up my vanilla sock knitting pattern and slowly the SPIRIT of cross stitching seeped back into my life….ps also when You are overly tired or rushed….thats a good time to walk away for a breather…..Thanks Ford for this chance to be part of a community Merry Christmas

[heidisnow]

Thank you about the back of the fabric. When I first learned to cross stitch, I read online and saw Flosstube videos where people showed off their perfect backs. That was so dang stressful. And, doing a HAED where there is a ton of confetti, well, I just gave up on trying to make the back perfect. I'm so glad you talked about that here. I hope new cross stitchers quickly find this video so they can learn this tip right away.

[Caterfree]

Dear god, the loop stitch is already a game changer for me. I think I am subscribing just so i can learn better techniques period at this rate oml.

[meganrussell]

Great tips! My favorite is the loop start! I would be interested in a back stitch tutorial for when you have to run those over blank canvas and tie in ends, et cetera!

[melissahodnett]

I haven’t done cross stitching for several decades. When I did it before I had no idea of anything you talked about here. I’m thinking about doing a small design but want to learn more first. I’m so glad I found your channel. Thank you.

[nataliassis]

100% agree on the back of the fabric tip. I learned cross-stitching when I was still a kid with my mom and back then it seems they were more concerned with the back than with the front lol. Now I couldn't care less what the back looks like as long as the front looks good. No one will ever see the back and if they do they'll know a human did it, not a machine.

[sandrashaw]

I use loop stitch from the front instead of the back.

[dragonflycait]

I use Q-Snaps. When I mount the fabric, I place the frame on the front side. Clipping the fabric so that holding the excess fabric, I am touching the back side, not the front of the fabric. The extra benefit is that you have a ‘well’ created. Great for when that needle slips off the floss. It will usually drop into the ‘well’. Also great for holding those ‘splinter’ tweezers for pulling out ‘unwanted fabric’ such as cat hairs, etc.. or if you have to remove a misplaced stitch. Those sharp points allow you to grab the floss without creating a problem.
I also buy waist-band elastic. Measure around two sides of the frame, cut one inch shorter and hand stitch the overlap. The elastic helps to hold the excess rolled up fabric so it’s out of your way. Neat and tidy. You only need two elastic bands, one horizontal, one vertical.

[Jan-SewHappy]

I'm new to your video... very good advice!! I've been stitching for almost 50 years and you actually made me think of things I never gave much thought to... Thank You😊

[JoanneBerndsen]

Hi Ford, Great flosstube for all cross stitchers ! "Inherited wisdom", not only in cross stitch ! I had to smile when you mentioned that :) Loop start is a game changer ! And pulling out one thread at a time is like magic !

[Luvmysol]

Chopsticks!! Love this! I’m not great at them but my desire to snack and also keep my work clean is strong 😋

[decgal]

I love starting and ending with a loop. I'm just starting my journey again after learning to cross stitch as a child.

[paigeparker]

Omg loop start! Thank you for sharing I have been doing off and on for the last 25-30 YEARS!

[myrnakampjes]

I wish I had known:
🪡 that there is a flat side and a curved side on the eye of your needle. Sometimes if you are having difficulty threading it, flip the needle over and try from the other side
🪡 that if your thread isn't laying flat and seems to be twisted while you stitch, let it hang (attached to the needle) from underneath your project and it will naturally unwind itself.
🪡 How much fun cross stitch camps or day events are and how much I would learn from people at my table,
🪡 that cutting a small piece of rubber shelf liner would help keep your fabric from slipping in a hoop.

[shelleyrivers]

Ball tip needles saved my sanity working on black aida, and made stitching on 18ct possible again. (I'm in my 60s and my eyes aren't good.)

[conniestanley]

I always railroads when using white floss. I think it makes a big difference in how the stitch lays particularly when I stitching white next to a dark color.

[cherylgates]

Um, wow, loop stitch is a life changer... thank you!!!!

[ygcdlpy]

Such a great video with so many little important points, thank you! I so enjoyed this:)