Imperfect Stitches, Perfect You: Letting Go of the Need to “Do It Right”
Let me say it loud and clear, there is no “right” way to cross stitch.
If you’re a beginner, maybe you've found yourself staring at your pattern, needle in hand, wondering: Where exactly am I supposed to make the next stitch? Am I doing this wrong?
Here’s the truth: there are no hard and fast rules in cross stitch. There are guidelines, sure. Tips to help things go more smoothly. But at the end of the day, cross stitch is your creative space. And it gets to look the way you want it to look.
Yes, your back might not be picture-perfect. Maybe your thread gets a little tangled. Maybe your x’s lean a little one way or another. But none of that means you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re learning, and that’s part of the beauty of it.
When I first started, I constantly second-guessed myself. I’d rip out stitches because they didn’t look “clean enough.” I thought the back had to be pristine. But eventually, I realized something powerful: the process is the point. Not perfection. Not symmetry. Not checking some invisible “how-to” box. Just showing up, stitch by stitch, creating something meaningful with my hands.
So, let’s talk about some of those common suggestions you might hear, like “keep the back neat” or “don’t use knots.” Those aren’t rules to stress over, they’re just helpful ideas to make stitching smoother for you. A neat back can help you avoid lumps under your fabric, or prevent threads from catching later. Not using knots keeps things tidy and easier to frame. But if you do knot? That’s okay too. You’re not being graded. This is your project, your pace, your peace.
And here’s a little secret, some of my favorite projects aren’t the ones that turned out flawless. They’re the ones I stitched when I really needed that affirmation. The ones where I let go of perfection and just let the needle move. The ones where I gave myself grace.
So if you're just starting out, or feeling unsure, here’s your permission slip: you do not have to “do it right.” Just begin. Stitch a little. Take a breath. It’s not about getting it perfect, it’s about getting it personal.
Because imperfect stitches?
They’re made by a perfectly growing, learning, evolving you.
