Cross stitch types

Cross stitches are created on a matrix of squares or 'pixels'. Any part of the square can be stitched, from the edges to the diagonals. The full range is listed here.

	Full Cross		Upright Cross		Three-Quarter Cross
	Double Cross		Half Cross		Elongated Vertical Cross
	Quarter Cross		Elongated Horizontal Cross		Mini Cross
	Single Line		French knot

Cross stitch fills

When using cross stitch as a fill you can select from any of the cross stitch fill types.

Full cross stitch

Full cross stitches are made up of two equal-length stitches that cross at the center to form an X. The overall effect depends on which stitch within the X lies beneath or on top. You can also mix and match for special effects.

Three-quarter cross stitch

A three-quarter stitch is most often created by stitching a quarter stitch followed by a half stitch. A different effect is achieved by stitching the half stitch first and anchoring it with the quarter stitch. The long arm of the three-quarter stitch can go either / or \ directions.

Frequently a quarter stitch and a three-quarter stitch of different colors share a single square. Mix and match their positions to give different effects.

Half cross stitch

A half stitch is simply a diagonal stitch that looks like / or like \. Half stitches are usually used for shadows and background shading. The stitch can start from any corner. Sometimes two half stitches of different colors are used to make one full cross stitch. Half stitches can go in either direction depending on the effect you want to achieve. For example, half stitches used to represent feathers would slant in the direction of the feathers themselves.

Quarter cross stitch

Quarter stitches are used to stitch more intricate patterns.

Mini cross stitch

Mini cross stitches are two equal-length stitches that cross at the center to form an X but they only fill quarter of the square. Use mini cross stitch for details such as eyes or for a denser look in parts of your design.

Upright cross stitch

Upright cross stitches are comprised of a vertical and horizontal stitch. The stitches can be worked diagonally across the canvas, or in a horizontal or vertical line.

Double cross stitch

Double cross stitch is comprised of two full cross stitches stitched at 45º to each other. A double cross stitch resembles a star. It is generally used in a scattered fashion or worked into a row to form a decorative border. Typically the top thread of the bottom cross is the stitch which lies at 135º to the horizontal, while the top thread of the overlapping cross is the horizontal stitch.

Elongated cross stitch

Elongated cross stitch consists of two equal-length stitches that cross to form an X. There are two types - elongated horizontal and elongated vertical cross stitch. Elongated horizontal cross stitches are only half the height of normal cross stitch while elongated vertical cross stitches are only half the width of normal cross stitch.

French knots

French knots were originally a hand-stitch used to create a raised look for embellishment. They were traditionally used in ‘whitework’ with very exclusive cotton and fine silk threads. French knots can be used in combination with other cross-stitch types. Use them for eyes, door knobs, dots for flower pistils, or in place of beads used in hand-work designs – e.g. ornaments on a Christmas tree or to dot letters such as ‘i’. Use them as an outline border. Try them with colorful metallic or variegated threads. French knots are better sewn in larger grids.

Cross stitch borders

Cross stitch can be used as an embroidery outline. You can also combine cross stitching with other stitch types to achieve special effects. You can make outlines with Single Line or Full Cross stitches or a combination of both for a denser border. A Single Line outline is treated by the software as a border while a Full Cross outline is treated as a fill. This is important if you need to delete a border because a single line can be deleted as a single object while a full cross stitch border cannot.

Single line border

Single line stitches are only used to create borders or add details. The single line can be placed on any side of the square. Click on the side you want to place the line. You can place a single line border on one side or all four sides of the square. The single line border can be placed in a square which already has a cross stitch in it.

Full cross border

Full crosses can also be used as a decorative outline stitch. If you use full cross as a border it will be the same cross stitch type as selected in the fill stitch type list. You can change this by changing the fill stitch type.

Cross stitch variations

The orientation of fractional cross stitches can be varied to create different patterning effects. You do this directly pixel-by-pixel, or by setting a fill stitch orientation. You can also combine fractional cross stitches in a variety of ways.

Three-quarter cross stitches

Quarter and three-quarter cross stitches can be used to create rounded edges.

Half cross stitches

Half cross stitches can be used to give objects an ‘airy’ look. You can also use half cross stitches to make a full cross stitch with two colors.

Quarter cross stitches

Quarter and three-quarter cross stitch can be used to smooth rounded edges. You can also use quarter cross stitch to make a full cross stitch with up to four colors.

Mini cross stitches

Use mini cross stitch for details such as eyes or for a denser look in parts of your design.

Elongated cross stitches

Vertical and horizontal elongated cross stitches are made up of two equal-length stitches that cross to form an X. They fill either the left, right, top or bottom of the square.

Combination stitches

Quarter, half and three-quarter cross stitches can be combined to make crosses comprised of multiple colors. You can also combine mini crosses, elongated vertical or horizontal crosses and outline stitches.

Combination of 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 crosses       Combination of elongated vertical or horizontal crosses     Combination of fractional and mini crosses   Combination of colored outlines     Combination of outlines and crosses