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Reading
Needlework Charts
So, you have
decided to learn counted cross stitch. It is great fun
and the final results often look like a painting from
afar. This page is to help you if you are unfamiliar
with how a needlework chart works and what all those
little symbols mean and to explain some of the common
abbreviations designers use in their
directions.
ABBREVIATIONS:
ct - count (fabric count or stitch count)
st - stitch
Rainbow
Gallery and Kreinik have a wide range of specialty
threads. I've listed a few that are used
often.
KREINIK:
BF - Blending
Filament
#4 VF Braid -
used for #4 Very Fine Braid by
Kreinik
#8 F Braid -
used for #8 Fine Braid by
Kreinik
HL - used after color # and stands for High
Lustre for Kreinik threads
RAINBOW
GALLERY:
Wisper -
A specialty thread made by Rainbow
Gallery
S800 - S stands for Splendor - a silk thread from
Rainbow Gallery
Gold Rush
#12, #14, #18 - various
metallics from Rainbow Gallery
Gold Rush
XS - fine
metallic from Rainbow Gallery
Hi-Lights - a thread
pre-blended with metallic from Rainbow
Gallery
TB - Treasure
Braid #4, #8, #16 - metallic braids from Rainbow
Gallery
TB Petite -
Treasure
One
Symbol with 2 bracketed color numbers - stands for blended needle (or tweeding)
Blended
Needle or Tweeding - When
the designer wants you to thread your needle with a
blend of 2 or more colors of floss and then stitch the
cross stitches for that symbol. Usually the combinations
are 1 strand each of 2 different color #'s or sometimes
2 strands of 1 color # and 1 strand of the other color
#. The exact # of strands to use for each color will
be indicated in your color key. Think Teresa
Wentzler!
x1 or x2 ,
etc. - usually used to indicate
the # of strands to use for that particular color or
stitch.
2 over 2 -
indicates to stitch the design 2
over 2 threads on linen/evenweave
1 over 1 -
indicates to stitch the design 1
over 1 thread on linen/evenweave
Types
of Fabric
Aida - fabric that is divided into distinct squares
used for counted cross stitch. Aida is always stitched
1 cross stitch for each 'square' on the fabric.
Evenweave - similar
to linen, but the threads are more uniform and the fabric
may be thicker than linen. When trying to switch from
Aida to linen, it is often easiest to first stitch 2
over 2 on evenweave fabric before attempting 2 over
2 on linen.
Linen - similar to evenweave, but usually a finer
weave with thinner threads. Can have thick and thin
spots in the threads. These are referred to as 'slubs.'
They don't usually interfere with the stitching and
it all evens out as you stitch.
Many stitchers
learn on Aida and progress to either evenweave or linen
as time goes by. They are all beautiful fabrics, but
there is something special about stitching on evenweaves
and linen (IMHO).
Chart
Basics:
Needlework
charts consist of a grid with a bold line every between
every 10th grid square. So, when you look at a needlwork
chart, you can easily count your stitches by knowing
that between every bold line there are 10 stitches/grid
squares.
WHERE TO
BEGIN:
The center of
your needlework chart will be indicated by an arrow
pointing down from the top and in from the side of the
chart. If you take your fingers and follow the center
top arrow and the center side arrow, they will meet in
the exact center of the chart. Many stitchers choose to
begin stitching in the exact center. If you choose to
begin here, then mark this spot with a tiny cross stitch
or a pin or needle, so you know where to begin
stitching.
Beginning
at Top, Side, or Bottom: You will need
to know how much extra fabric you have allowed around
the design. The following directions use the standard
3 inch margin that is usually recommended for needlework.
To
begin at the top left: measure in
3 inches from the left side of the fabric and 3 inches
down from the top left of the fabric (or the amount
of extra fabric you've allowed around the edges of the
design). If the chart has symbols all the way in the
upper left corner, then you may begin stitching in the
top left corner.
If the
stitching doesn't come right up to the top left corner,
then you need to count how many blank grid squares there
are to the first stitch and make a note of that number.
Then, from the 3 inch mark, count the same number of
Aida squares or twice the number of linen threads
(because you are stitching 2 over 2 threads on linen) to
reach the place on the fabric that will correspond with
the first stitch on the chart.
This same
process may be used to begin from the upper right, lower
right, or lower left of the design.
If
you wish to begin in the top, bottom, or side centers:
You will measure in 3 inches (or the amount of extra
fabric you've allowed around the edges of the design)
from the center line at your desired location. Then,
note on the chart if you need to count blank grid squares
to reach the first stitch in this area. If so, you will
then count this number of Aida squares or twice the
number of linen threads to reach the spot to place your
first stitch.
SYMBOLS
When you look
at a needlework chart, it is a combination of a grid
with various symbols in each grid square and maybe dark
lines following the edge of the stitches. Each grid
square stands for one cross stitch. Each symbol on the
chart stands for the color floss (or bead, or specialty
thread) that you need to stitch the cross stitch with.
If the symbol is for a bead, then follow the directions
for attaching beads.
COLOR KEY AND
HOW TO READ IT
Your chart
will come with a Color Key. Usually at the top of the
Color Key will be a note as to how the design is
stitched, i.e., Design stitched with 2 strands 2 over 2
threads on linen. This will mean that your cross
stitches are stitched over 2 threads up and 2 threads
down. Each cross stitch will be stitched over an area of
linen that looks this: # Notice that there are two threads running
horizontally and two threads running
vertically.
The Color Key
will usually be separated by:
Brand name
of threads
beads
charms/treasures/buttons
Cross Stitches
backstitching
specialty stitches (if used)
Each
of these sections will tell you how many strands (may
be indicated by (x1) or (x2) note), the color number,
sometimes the color name, and sometimes a note that
2 or more skeins/packages are needed.
If the color
key isn't separated by brands and types of stitches,
then there will be a note next to each symbol and color
number to indicate the stitch used and the type of thread
(bead/charm/button) used for that symbol.
NUMBER OF
SKEINS, CARDS, SPOOLS, PACKAGES TO
PURCHASE
Most charts
will indicate whether you need 1, 2, or more skeins,
spools, or cards of thread or packages of beads.
Additional supplies may be indicated by an asterisk
beside the color number in the Color Key. The chart may
say something like this:
** indicates 2 skeins, cards, spools of thread or 2
packages of beads.
*** indicates 3 skeins, cards, spools
of thread or 3 packages of beads.
or the chart
may indicate additional skeins with a number within
parenthesis next to the floss color. For
example:
(2) indicates
2 skeins, cards, spools of thread or 2 packages of
beads.
(3) indicates 3 skeins, cards, spools of
thread or 3 packages of beads.
Each symbol
stands for a color of thread, bead, or specialty thread
used and sometimes stands for a specialty stitch to
be used with the thread listed. Find this thread, bead,
or specialty thread and thread your needle with the
indicated number of strands. Stitch one cross stitch
(or follow directions for specialty stitches) for each
symbol on the chart.
Each time there
is a different symbol, you need to check your Color
Key for the thread, bead, specialty thread, or specialty
stitch to use for this symbol and if there are any special
instructions for that color.
BACKSTITCHING
The dark solid
lines outlining certain areas of cross stitches indicate
backstiching in this area. Follow the lines and backstitch
in the color and number of strands indicated in your
color key. The color key will list the color # and what
portions of the design to backstitch in that color.
For example:
DMC #898 -
outline of dress, hair, tree
DMC Ecru - designs on dress
DMC #501 -
grass
Backstitching
may also be indicated by patterned lines, such as dotted
lines, dashed lines, etc. These are usually used when
several colors of backstitching are used. It will help
you to know where to stitch each color of backstitching.
SIZE OF DESIGN
All charts
will indicate the size of the design in inches and in
stitch count. This may be indicated on the cover page,
Color Key (back page), or with the instructions included
inside the leaflet/chartpak. And, the type of fabric
used to stitch the model is usually listed along with
the sizes.
Look for
something like this (ct stands for
count):
Model
stitched on 32 ct linen - Blue Silk from Wichelt Imports
#65-143
Design Count:
256 wide x 309 height
Design Size:
16" wide x 19-1/4" height
With this
information, you can easily figure the size of the
design on any count fabric you choose to stitch with.
Here's how:
Assuming the
design is stitched 2 over 2 threads (which will also be
indicated on the Color Key), then the count you are
stitching is 1/2 the count of the
linen/evenweave/fabric:
40 ct fabric
= 20 ct stitching
36 ct fabric = 18 ct
stitching
32 ct fabric = 16 ct stitching
30 ct
fabric = 15 ct stitching
28 ct fabric = 14 ct
stitching
25 ct fabric = approx. 12 ct stitching
(12.5)
27 ct fabric = approx. 13 ct stitching
(13.5)
26 ct fabric = 13 ct stitching
22 ct fabric
= 11 ct stitching
20 ct fabric = 10 ct
stitching
19 ct fabric = approx. 9 ct stitching
(9.5)
18 ct fabric = 9 ct stitching
16 ct fabric =
8 ct stitching
14 ct fabric = 7 ct
stitching
7 ct, 8 ct,
and 10 ct fabrics are usually stitched over 1 so the
stitching count is the same as the fabric count.
To figure out
the size of your finished design on a different count
fabric than the pattern calls for, you need to divide
the Design Count both for width and height by 1/2 the
number of the fabric count.
So, the above
design when stitched on 28 count would
be:
256 divided
by 14 = 18-1/4" width
309 divided
by 14 = 22" height
From these
width and height calculations, you can now figure out
what size fabric you need to stitch the design by adding
the recommended 3" extra fabric to the width and height,
you would purchase 28 ct fabric in this size below.
18-1/4" plus
3" = 21-1/4" width
22" plus 3"
= 25" height
Note: the amount
of extra fabric needed can vary depending on your method
of finishing the design. If you are planning on using
mats with the frame, ask you shopowner or framer how
much extra fabric they will need to finish the design
this way.
If
you are finishing as a pillow, bell-pull, tote bag,
ornament, etc., you will need to figure out how much
extra fabric you need if you want to use the extra Linen/Aida
for finishing. Sometimes the design will come with instructions
and you can check these for how much extra Linen/Aida
you will need. Or, you can ask your shopowner's advice
on the amount of extra needed.
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