| There are many different cross stitch fabrics available | | | | aida cloth. This appearance also makes the cloth |
| to choose from. You have aida cloth, afghan cloth, | | | | harder to produce even stitches and is generally used |
| linen, perforated paper, waste canvas and specialty | | | | more by experienced stitchers than beginners. When |
| fabrics. With all these choices, it can be hard to decide | | | | stitching, you will usually stitch over two squares, rather |
| which one to use. However, each one has it's own | | | | than creating an "x" for each square. Advantage: |
| qualities and advantages. Once you know the qualities | | | | Great for detailed designs and to give an "old fashion" |
| of each fabric, it is a simple matter of matching up | | | | appearance to a cross stitch project. |
| your project with the qualities you need. Here's a brief | | | | Perforated Paper |
| description of each type and the advantages of each | | | | Perforated paper was popular during the Victorian era |
| one so that you can decide what fabric is ideal for | | | | by people who could not afford linen cloth. It was |
| your next cross stitch project. | | | | mostly used to make bookmarks or bible verses to |
| Aida Cloth | | | | hang on the wall. Today it is still very popular for |
| Aida cloth is well known because of the tiny holes in | | | | bookmarks, ornaments or simple patterns. Advantage: |
| the cloth, set in a grid pattern. It comes in a variety of | | | | It's stiffer than cloth and is ideal for projects that you |
| sizes. The size determines how far apart the holes | | | | don't want to bend easily. |
| are spaced. The smaller the number, the farther apart | | | | Specialty |
| the holes are; the larger the number, the closer | | | | These fabrics take a new twist on aida cloth. They all |
| together the holes are. Aida cloth with a smaller | | | | have aida cloth for the stitching area, plus regular |
| number size is easier to work with, but larger number | | | | fabric. They come in many different shapes and styles, |
| sizes allow for more detailed designs. Aida cloth also | | | | including hand towels, baby bibs, jar lid covers and |
| comes in a variety of colours, including solids, prints and | | | | more. Advantage: You don't have to worry about |
| hand dyed. Advantage: It's easy to use. Simply place | | | | finishing your project. Simply stitch the design and you |
| your needle in the holes and you're almost guaranteed | | | | are done! |
| to have perfect little "x's" in your stitching each time! | | | | Waste Canvas |
| Afghan Cloth | | | | Sometimes you want to cross stitch a design on a |
| Afghan cloth is a very large piece of aida cloth, but it is | | | | shirt, tote bag or other object. It can be hard to get all |
| softer than aida cloth. It's the size of a small afghan or | | | | your "x's" to line up properly or to know where to |
| throw. Sometimes the edges are finished for you, but | | | | place them without a grid to follow. That's where |
| sometimes you have to finish the edges yourself. As | | | | waste canvas comes in. Simply baste it over the area |
| well, it can have a design or pattern that clearly breaks | | | | you want to cross stitch and then stitch away like |
| the cloth up into little squares. The idea is that you will | | | | normal. Once you're done stitching, simply moisten the |
| stitch a different design on each square. Advantage: | | | | waste canvas and pull it out, strand by strand. Make |
| Works great to show off a collection or series of | | | | sure to soak your threads before using them in order |
| patterns, such as different flowers. | | | | to set the colours of the thread before stitching. |
| Linen | | | | Advantage: By using waste canvas, you can cross |
| Linen has a basket weave appearance and the grid | | | | stitch a design on almost anything! |
| lines of the cloth are not as easy to notice as with | | | | |