How to Prepare Your Fabric & Thread

Before you start stitching, it's important to prepare your materials properly. This ensures a smooth stitching experience and helps prevent frustration down the line. In this tutorial, we’ll go over how to find the center of your fabric, cut your thread to the right length, and separate strands for stitching.

How to Find the Center of Your Fabric

Finding the center of your fabric is key because most cross stitch patterns are designed to be stitched from the center outward. Here’s how to do it:

1. Fold your fabric in half vertically and crease it lightly.
2. Fold it in half again horizontally and crease it.
3. Where the folds intersect is the center of your fabric, mark it with a small pin, water-soluble pen, or a simple stitch using a contrasting thread.
4. Match this center to the center of your pattern to ensure correct placement.

How to Cut Your Thread

Your Blooming Intention cross stitch kit includes pre-cut thread strands that are 36 inches long. To make stitching easier and prevent tangling, follow these steps:

1. Cut the thread in half (18 inches) before threading your needle. This length is easier to manage and reduces knots.
2. If you prefer to use the loop start method, keep the 36-inch length intact. (More on this in the next tutorial!)

How to Separate Strands

Cross stitch patterns typically call for two strands of thread for stitching. Since embroidery floss comes with six strands twisted together, you’ll need to separate them:

1. Gently pull one strand at a time from the bunch to prevent tangling.
2. Once you have two separate strands, thread them together into your needle.

If you are using the loop start method, take one strand of floss (36 inches) and fold it in half, making a loop at one end. Take the loop end through your needle. Pull the loop end down so it's longer than the other end.

Now that your fabric and thread are ready, you’re all set to begin stitching!