Fabric is the foundation of every cross stitch project, and it’s also where a lot of confusion starts. Aida, evenweave, linen, counts, waste canvas, it all sounds more complicated than it is. This guide pulls together everything on the site about choosing, preparing, and caring for your fabric.
Every post tagged below covers some part of this topic, newest first. If you want a specific answer right away, start with the sections below.
Before you pick a fabric for your next project, it helps to know what your actual options are and how they differ. This section covers the basics, from fabric types to which aida brands are worth buying.
Start with cross stitch fabric types for the overview, then who makes the best cross stitch aida if you’re choosing a brand. If you’re trying to match aida to thread, the zweigart aida to DMC thread converter is worth bookmarking.
Not every project sticks to standard white aida. Black aida, oversized pieces, and even printed fabric all behave a little differently, and it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into before you start.
How to cross stitch on any fabric is the best starting point if you’re stepping outside standard aida, and how to cross stitch on black aida covers one of the trickiest variations. For bigger projects, where to find super sized aida is a genuinely useful resource, and DMC’s new printed aida looks at where the fabric side of the hobby might be heading.
A little preparation before you start stitching saves a lot of frustration later, and hand dyeing is worth trying at least once if you want more control over your finished piece.
Why you should wash your aida before you use it is a small step that makes a real difference, and how to hand dye aida and why you should try it is worth reading even if you never do it yourself. Once you’re ready to start, the better alternative to finding the center of your fabric will save you some guesswork.
Waste canvas lets you cross stitch on fabrics that would otherwise be impossible to count on, like t-shirts or existing garments. It has a bit of a learning curve, but it opens up a lot of project ideas once you’ve got the hang of it.
How to use waste canvas for cross stitch covers the method from start to finish, and how to cross stitch objects without waste canvas is the alternative if you’d rather skip it entirely.
Once you’ve got more than a couple of pieces of fabric sitting around, keeping track of what you have and what it’s earmarked for becomes its own small project.
How to organize your cross stitch fabric covers the practical side of keeping your stash usable rather than just accumulating.
Back in 2017 we were the first people to talk about the "new" DMC threads (although that was 5 years ago now), in fact we were 3 days ahead of the official announcement! It's not that surprising then that we've also spoken about the DMC Etoile threads before launch, and the Diamant threads too. But…
I love a random tool I didn't know I needed but ends up being the best thing since sliced bread. Odds are, you probably do to, which is why I've reviewed everything from cross stitch travel scissors to cross stitch identification cards and scissors that make frogging easy. However, all of those have something in…
There are a lot of cross stitch fabrics out there, and there are a whole bunch of cross stitch fabric brands, however, the color selections are a little... lacking. You might want something with a bright color, you might want something a little more patterned, or just something fun, but you can't find any. Thankfully,…
I'm a big believer in washing my cross stitch after I'm finished, and whilst I know there are people out there that don't wash their cross stitch, I recently started washing my aida before I cross stitch. I know this initially sounds crazy, however there is a method to my madness, and washing your…