Okay, so I’ve been seeing these super cute counted cross stitch flower patterns all over Pinterest and Instagram, and I finally decided to give it a try. I’ve done some basic cross stitch before, like, years ago, but nothing this intricate. So, this was kind of a new adventure for me!
Getting Started
First, I needed to find a pattern. I spent, no joke, hours browsing online. There are SO many options! I finally settled on a simple rose design. I wanted something pretty but not too crazy complicated for my first attempt.
Next, I gathered my supplies. I already had some embroidery floss (that’s the thread) and needles, but I needed Aida cloth, which is the fabric you use for cross stitch. It has these little squares that make it easy to, you know, count your stitches. I went to the craft store and picked out a nice, light-colored piece. I also grabbed a small embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut while I stitched.
The Stitching Process
Okay, so this is where things got real. I printed out my pattern and stared at it for a good 10 minutes, trying to figure out where to even begin. I decided to start in the center, like the pattern suggested. I threaded my needle with two strands of red floss (for the rose petals) and got to work.
It was slow going at first. I kept having to double-check the pattern to make sure I was putting the stitches in the right place. It’s literally counting, little x’s one by one! But after a while, I started to get the hang of it. I found it really relaxing, actually. It was like, my brain could just focus on this one simple task, and everything else kind of faded away.
- Thread the needle: This sounds simple, but sometimes those tiny needle eyes are a pain!
- Find the center: I folded my fabric in half and then in half again to find the very center point.
- Make the X: Each stitch is basically a tiny “X”. You go up through one hole, down through the diagonal hole, then up through another, and down through its diagonal.
- Follow the pattern: This is the key! I kept the pattern right next to me and checked it constantly.
I worked on it a little bit each evening after work. It took me about a week to finish the rose, and then I started on the leaves. Green floss, same process. The leaves were even easier than the rose because there were fewer color changes.
The Finished Product
I am SO proud of how it turned out! It’s not perfect, there is some mess, you know. There are a few stitches that are a little wonky, and I definitely messed up the counting a couple of times. But overall, it looks really good! I’m already planning my next project – maybe a whole bouquet this time!
