What's Cross Stitch?
Forming a picture with lots of little x-shaped stitches.
What you need:

• Aida cloth
• Embroidery cotton in red-brown, brown, black, cream and two kinds of green
• Embroidery hoop
• Needle

What to do:

1. Pick a part of the cross stitch pattern you want to start with – perhaps a row of five crosses in one colour, and pull apart a bundle of embroidery cotton; you just want one thread. Cut it to the length you want, then double it back so you have a two-strand thread. Tie a knot in it at the end.
2. Start from the back and poke up your needle, then push it back down again so you’ve made a tiny diagonal stitch, using the holes of the aida cloth as a guide. Repeat with a diagonal stitch the other way so you’ve got a little ‘x’.
3. Sometimes it’s easier, faster and neater to create a row of four or five forward leaning stitches, then go back four or five times.
4. Mark off your completed stitches on your printed-off pattern.
5. When you’ve finished a colour or section, cut the thread and tie a neat knot at the back.

Love craft? You'll LOVE October Total Girl. Grab this issue for the cutest craft ideas including patchwork, decoupage and painted porcelain!
P.S. Check out this gorgeous video of our very own TG staffer, Claire, and crochet expert Candice!