Wednesday, 13 July 2016

The Science behind Cross-stitch embroidery

Cross-stitch is a type of counted thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches are used in a pattern to form a picture.  It starts with a simple X shaped stitch that is commonly embroidered with floss on an even-weave Aida matte fabric.  The cross stitch is repeated numerous times to create a design.  Counted cross stitch designs are made by following a grid or chart where each square that contains a symbol represents 1 stitch.

A cross-stitch pattern is similar to a computer graphics image which is a rectangular grid of pixels of different colours. Simple mathematics is involved in the realm of counted cross stitch.

MEASUREMENT
First you start out by choosing your fabric. By using measurement you can determine the size that you need the design to be. Fabric count will determine the finished size of the design. The most common used fabric is Aida matte. Most designs give you different sizes for different counts of fabrics telling you the size of the finished design.

Secondly you need to find the center of the design and fabric. Next you need to find the center of your fabric, fold the fabric in half and then in half again, marking the middle square with a pencil/pen. This is where you will start stitching your design.

Cross stitching requires a lot of counting. One needs to determine the amount of floss that you will need for a section of the pattern. Estimate the amount of skeins for a color needed to complete the pattern. 


GEOMETRY
 Cross stitching incorporates angles, shapes, and coordinates. There are a lot of 90° angles, 45° angles, and 135° interwoven into a cross stitch pattern. Some patterns have symmetry.   


ALGEBRA
Algebra is used in cross stitching through ratios(rise over run), patterns, and meaningful use of reading symbols. By reading symbols you learn which color to use on the pattern.   

 

FRACTIONS
Cross stitching even incorporates fractions.  For the use of background filling, there are different types of stitches - half stitch, one-quarter stitch, and three-quarter stitch.

 - Half Stitch - The Half Stich is a diagonal stitch that goes from one corner of the fabric square to the opposite corner. Some designs use the half stitch to add interest and texture to backgrounds and shadows
 - Quarter Stitch – A quarter stitch resembles a half stitch but is half its length and only extends into the center of the stitching square.   Quarter stitches are often used to create details or to complete a three quarter stitch that has been stitched in a different color.
 - Three Quarter Stitch –Three Quarter stitches are used to create curved design lines.  This fractional stitch makes it possible to add detail to the otherwise “blocky” look of traditional cross stitch.
 - Quarter Stitch – Stitch 1-2 is the One-Quarter Stitch. When stitches 1-4 are worked in the same colour, the resulting stitch is called a Three-Quarter Stitch
Information and Image source: Internet

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