How to cross stitch

Madog kits are counted cross stitch. This means you will get a blank piece of canvas fabric and a coloured diagram where each little square is equivalent to one stitch on the canvas. You need to count the stitches as you stitch. 

The blocks of colour in Madog designs mean that you can often switch off from the counting  because you can follow the number of stitches from the previous row.  

The designs provide a great balance of needing to concentrate just enough to encourage your mind to fully focus on the task in hand, but also give you enough leeway to lose yourself in the process of simply stitching without thinking. 

All Madog kits come with easy to follow instructions, a practice piece of canvas, demonstration stitches and plenty of spare thread, so you don’t need to worry about getting started.

Take a thread of wool and thread it through the needle.

Leave a short length of thread at the back of the canvas, about 3cm, when you first bring your needle and thread up through square number 1. 

Loop this short length of thread securely into place as you stitch. This avoids the need to make a knot in your thread. 

1. Bring your needle and thread through square number 1, from the back of the canvas.

2. Take your needle and thread through square number 2, from the front of the canvas.

3. Bring your needle and thread through square number 3, from the back of the canvas.

4. Take your needle and thread through square number 4, from the front of the canvas.

5. Keep stitching like this across the row.

6. When you get to the end of the row of colour you’re working on (shown as squares 4 & 5 in illustration) bring your needle and thread through square number 5 from the back of the canvas, then reverse your stitches taking your needle and thread through square number 2 from the front of the canvas.

7. Keep stitching across your row of colour until you’re back at your starting point.

8. To move up a row, bring your needle and thread through square number 7, from the back of the

canvas.

9. Take your needle and thread through square number 6, from the front of the canvas.

10. Bring your needle and thread through square number 2, from the back of the canvas.

11. Keep stitching like this across the row.

Your stitches should always run in the same direction to give a smoother, more uniform finish. When your thread starts to come to its end, run the threaded needle through the back of a few of your stitches. Do this a couple of times to secure the thread in place. Trim your thread so that you don’t have long strands hanging out at the back of your canvas.

As an alternative method to one outlined above, you can complete each cross stitch in its entirety before moving on to the next.

1. Bring your needle and thread through square number 2, from the back of the canvas.

2. Take your needle and thread through square number 1, from the front of the canvas.

3. Bring your needle and thread through square number 6, from the back of the canvas.

4. Take your needle and thread through square number 3, from the front of the canvas.

5. Keep stitching individual crosses across the row of colour you’re working on.