Keeping Stitches Neat and Consistent

One direction for the whole piece

Each cross has a bottom leg and a top leg. Decide once which way the top leg slants and keep to it for every stitch. The usual convention is bottom leg from lower left to upper right, top leg from lower right to upper left.

Light reflects off the top legs. If some slant the other way they catch the light differently and show as dull or shiny patches, even in the same colour.

Habits that help

• Use the stab method: needle fully down, then fully up, as separate movements.
• Pull each stitch until it lies flat on the fabric and stop. Pulling harder distorts the holes.
• Let the needle dangle every so often so the floss untwists.
• Smooth the two strands side by side as each stitch tightens, so they lie flat like a ribbon.
• Work rows in the same order each time: all the bottom legs along the row, then come back with the top legs.
• Wash your hands before stitching. Light Aida marks easily.