Finishing Beginner Cross Stitch Project: Ending a Thread “Go Away, I’m Reading” When the thread you’re working with runs out (usually when there’s 1” -- 2” left), finish the stitch, and turn your cloth over to view the back. Bookmark 1. At the back of your fabric, run your needle underneath several stitches, pull the thread taut, and repeat. After you have done this two or three times, snip off the end of the thread close to the fabric. (This will leave a little tail.) 2. If you’re still stitching, peel off your next two strands and continue stitching as instructed earlier. Finishing the Back of Your Bookmark Once you’ve finished stitching your bookmark pattern, it’s time to finish your bookmark back. 1. Iron or press flat your bookmark so that it’s wrinkle-free and flat. 2. Fold the long edges of the bookmark underneath it, leaving about five blank squares above the stitches. Iron or press flat. 3. Fold the short edges of the bookmark underneath it, leaving about five blank squares around the stitches. Iron or press flat. 4. Turn the bookmark over and lift the folded flaps. Apply a small amount of Elmer’s glue or fabric glue under them, using your finger or a paint brush to spread. Press flat for at least 10 minutes. 5. Apply a small amount of Elmer’s glue or fabric glue on the back of the bookmark and then place felt piece on top. Press flat for at least 10 minutes.

Optional: Your kit contains: Optional items you can If you want to make sure your felt backing is attached more securely, you can stitch it on. • Embroidery floss purchase: 1. Take two strands of embroidery floss and thread your needle. Tie a knot on the end. • (1) Embroidery needle • An embroidery hoop (at least 2. Place your needle at the top of the bookmark between the Aida cloth and the felt. It • 4” x 9” 14-count Aida cloth 5” in diameter) should be about two blank squares from the edge. • 2.5” x 7” felt backing • Magnet, needle minder, or pin 3. Pull your needle to the front and then push it into a hole about five squares to the left. • Bookmark pattern cushion 4. Pull your needle through both the Aida cloth and the felt, move it to the left, and then • This how-to pamphlet push it through a hole two squares away. 5. Repeat these actions around the bookmark, changing directions on the other sides. 6. Once you are back where you started, finish your last stitch, and end the thread as Items you’ll need: instructed earlier. • Scissors 7. Add a little bit of Elmer’s glue or fabric glue to the thread tail and pat in place. • Elmer’s glue or fabric glue • An iron or heavy book Before You Begin Stitching Gather Your Supplies Full Cross Stitch 1. Pattern: Your pattern is a one-page representation of what your bookmark You will be using the Full Cross Stitch for this project. That entails making will look like. The “x” represents where you will be stitching, and the blank “x’s” over each square. squares will be left blank. See “Stitching” for stitching instructions. 1. Once you have identified where your first stitch will be, you can start 2. Materials: You have been provided with (1) embroidery needle, (5) lengths stitching. of embroidery floss, (1) 4” x 9” piece of 14-count Aida cloth, and (1) 2.5” x 7” 2. To make your stitch, stick your needle into the fabric from the back into the piece of felt. You will need to provide your own pair of scissors, Elmer’s glue or bottom left corner of the square and pull your thread through. fabric glue, and iron or heavy books. 3. On the front, put your needle through the top right corner of the square 3. Optional: Many people prefer to use an embroidery hoop and needle and pull your thread through. minder/magnet/pin cushion when they cross stitch. Using an embroidery hoop can prevent hand cramping and keep the cloth taut. It is recommended 4. From the back, stick your needle into the bottom right corner of the square that you use one that is at least 5” in diameter but no more than 7”. A magnet, and pull your thread through. needle minder, or pin cushion can be useful for holding your needle. 5. On the front, put your needle through the top left corner of the square. You now have a Full Cross Stitch! Getting Started 1. Take one length of embroidery floss and carefully peel offtwo strands. Note: 2. Thread the two strands of embroidery floss through your needle, leaving If you need to make about 4” folded over. multiple x’s in a row, it is 3. Measure down 1” from the top left of the Aida cloth. best to first make all your diagonals from the bottom 4. Measure out .75” from the left of the Aida cloth. left corner to the top right 5. This intersection will be your first stitch. This corresponds with the first “x” corner and then go back and on the top left side of the pattern. An “-->” marks this stitch. make your diagonals from the bottom right corner to Embroidery Thread: the top left corner. It is also best to make stitches top You have been provided (5) lengths of embroidery floss, to bottom, so if you have each of them approximately 25” long. Each length is made multiple rows of x’s, finish up of six intertwined strands. You will need to peel offtwo the top row and then do the strands and thread them through your needle to make row beneath it. your stitches.

Aida Cloth: Starting Your Stitch: Aida cloth is made of woven fabric with small holes in it. These holes form squares, and you will be When you start stitching, you can either make a large knot at the end of your placing your needle in one of the holes at the edge thread to prevent it from getting pulled out or you can a leave 0.5” -- 1” tail of each square. and hold it in place until you have sewn enough x’s to prevent the thread from pulling out.