What is the Victorian Cross Stitch?

This stitch effectively covers the canvas by producing thick, hard-wearing pieces of needlework with no distortion in shape.

• Right handed stitchers: Always stitch from right to left.
• Left handed stitchers: Always stitch from left to right.

All of the wool is cut and ready to use as it comes in your kit.

• Do not cut your strands in half or try to separate them into individual strands.

Sometimes design colours are very close in shade. It is advisable to work these sections in daylight or use a light fitted with a daylight bulb.

Before starting your design, it is recommended that you:

• Separate all wool colours in good light. Be sure to keep the colours well-separated throughout the stitching process to avoid any similar shades being mixed up.
• Tie a small amount of each colour to the corresponding square on the right hand side of the canvas for quick, easy reference.

If you have not used our canvas before, you might find that it feels slightly stiffer than other brands. Try rolling the canvas up in different directions, to make it more malleable.

If you know you’ll be making a rug, be sure to work the design from hashmark to hashmark on the canvas. Our new stitch printing technology means the design is clearly marked at:

• 160 x 160 stitches for 16" designs
• 164 x 164 for Blooms Collection designs

If you come to the end of a row while stitching the background and there is still wool left in the needle, use it to start the next row back (on the right for right-handed stitches, or the left for left-handed stitchers).

The design is made up of areas of different colours, some large and some small. Aim to complete as much of a block of colour as possible before proceeding to the next. Plan a “route” around the pattern to avoid starting and finishing more than necessary.

If a row of colour is longer than seven or eight stitches, it should be finished off at the far end and the next row started afresh. If the gap from the end of one row of stitches to the beginning of the next is less than seven or eight stitches, then a short loop of wool may be left between them.

For areas with a colour running vertically (e.g., leaves), we recommend using the reverse stitch.

You can follow the chart and printed canvas simultaneously. Our new stitch printing technology means each canvas intersection is clearly and accurately marked. Your chart card can be used to reference any colour placement you are unsure of.

Please contact our customer service department with any questions. We’re here to help with everything from technique and thread advice to placing an order and delivery questions. You can reach us by phone at +44 (0)1865 339 050, email us at ebd@elizabethbradley.com, or click here to fill out our contact form.