How Do You Make Counted Cross-Stitch Patterns?
When planning to make a counted cross-stitch piece, you aren’t limited to patterns that manufacturers offer–you can make your own personalized pattern. Making a counted cross-stitch pattern by hand is a process of drawing a picture and/or writing words on graph paper. Xs that you draw in the graph boxes form a design on a chart. The filled-in boxes represent the stitches you will later make on Aida cloth when you stitch your design. Aida cloth is a very popular cross-stitch fabric that has threads woven in groups and separated by very small spaces. This woven formation creates a pattern of squares similar to the squares on graph paper. If you want to make your pattern with the help of a computer, there are numerous software programs available for purchase, some of which have the capability to convert photos into cross-stitch patterns. Draw your design on sketch paper. This will give you a picture to refer to when you make your design on graph paper. If you plan to write words as part
