Choosing your first pattern or kit
1 min read ·
Your first project should be fun, not frustrating. A few things make a big difference.
Kit or loose pattern?
- A kit has everything: fabric, pre-sorted thread, needle and the chart. Perfect to start, you don't have to choose anything.
- A loose pattern (a PDF or book) is cheaper and gives more choice, but you gather the fabric and thread yourself.
What to look for
- Size: start small, for example 40 to 60 stitches wide. You'll see progress every evening.
- Number of colours: 5 to 10 colours is plenty. Fewer colours means less switching.
- Few fractional stitches and little backstitch: whole crosses only is the most relaxing.
- Fabric: 14-count Aida (see Aida and count).
- A clear chart with colour and symbol, and a legend with thread numbers.
Where to find one
Our free patterns are labelled easy, medium or hard, and show the size in stitches. The easy ones are made for beginners: small, few colours and only whole crosses. Do you have a photo you love? Turn it into a photo pattern and pick a small size with few colours.
Before you start
Check whether you have all the threads (the "Can I stitch this?" check in the JoyStitch app does that for you), then read your first cross-stitch. Most of all: choose something that makes you happy. That's what gets a project finished.