The team at Take a Break are still crafting, and we’ve teamed up with the experts at Create and Craft to bring you some fabulous projects to try. This week, why not have a go at this cross stitch gnome? It’s easy to make and you can join the online ‘craftalong’ with Create and Craft’s Hayley below, and you can buy everything you need to make this project with the kit!
HOW TO CROSS STITCH
Watch our step-by-step craftalong videos below to see the basics of cross stitching, download and print the template below, then scroll down to make your own cross stitch gnome!
CROSS STITCH - FINISHING TOUCHES
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE TEMPLATE HERE
HOW TO MAKE A CROSS STITCH GNOME
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Press your aida fabric, then fold in half and pinch to create a small crease towards the centre. Repeat this folding the other way to find the centre of your fabric. Mark the middle with a heat-erasable pen or pin.
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Add your fabric to the hoop, lining up the centre as best you can. As you tighten the hoop, pulling the fabric taut, be careful not to distort the weave of the fabric.
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The floss is made up of six strands — you’ll be working with three strands. Cut a 50-60cm long piece — any longer and it will get tangled — then split it by taking three strands in each hand and slowly pulling them apart. It’s best to split the threads as you need them. Thread your needle with red thread but don’t tie a knot — instead you’ll trap the tail with the stitches to secure it.
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Using the design chart (download for free by clicking on the QR code), find the centre point and mark it, then from the centre point you marked on the fabric, count up to row 18 along to column 35 — this is the top of the hat and this is where we’ll start. Stitch a row of seven half stitches.
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Then turn and come back the other way to create complete crosses. Continue following the chart where each square represents a cross stitch, working your way through the design. When your thread runs out, don’t tie knots on the back — weave the end of the thread back through the stitches on the back.
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