How To Cross Stitch On Linen

Linen is a beautiful fabric made from flax plants. Compared to other cross stitch fabrics, it has a smoother, more natural appearance with fewer visible holes. It can take a little getting used to when you first start, so here are some tips for cross stitching on linen.

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The Benefits of Cross Stitching On Linen

It has a less visible weave and is much more pliable than Aida fabric, so stitchers may choose it for its appearance. It’s also easier to make fractional stitches, so it’s a popular choice for more elaborate patterns.

Selecting a Fabric

Linen comes in higher thread counts, so most of the time, the stitches are made across two threads of the fabric instead of across one thread block on Aida.

Select a thread count that is double what you would use with Aida fabric. For example, if a pattern calls for 14 count Aida, use 28 count linen, and if it calls for 16 count Aida, use 32 count linen.

You may find it easier to see the weave on lighter fabric, but if you insist on using a darker fabric, sometimes stitching against a white background can help you see it better.

Grid the Fabric

Since the weave is less visible, you may want to grid the fabric to help avoid miscounting. With Aida, it’s pretty easy to mark the fabric using a removable marker or pen, but since the threads are smaller in linen, it’s easiest to make lines of running stitches using thread such as Sulky Sliver.

Gridding can take a while, especially on larger projects. Even if you only grid out the central vertical and horizontal lines of the pattern, it will help you get started properly.

Making a running stitch every two stitches is the easiest way for me to grid.

Secure the Edges

Linen frays relatively easily, so you may want to secure the edges with a running stitch by hand or on the sewing machine.

Stitching On Linen

Like any other fabric, you can cross stitch on linen using a hoop, frame, or stitch-in-hand. When you’re first starting, apply tension to the fabric as you stitch to achieve smooth, even stitches. Since linen is more pliable than Aida, it can take some practice to get the stitches just right, not too tight and not too loose.

If you end up using a hoop or frame, take extra care when stretching the fabric, making sure you don’t distort its weave.

Use proper lighting and a magnifying lamp to see the fabric’s weave better.

It feels nerve-racking to make the first stitches on a blank piece of linen. Sometimes you accidentally make a stitch across the wrong number of threads. Take your time with the first few, and it will get easier to gauge where to make your stitches for subsequent ones.

Stitching on linen can initially slow you down, but with practice, you’ll get faster, and it may become your favorite fabric to stitch on!