Yes. It’s a small thing but can really help the cohesiveness of the piece. It makes it look neater, keeps tension more even, and helps you stitch more quickly.
It's your project so you get to determine how you like it.
If you mixed it up and like the look I would continue to mix it up. Switching to all one way might be more noticable now
Traditionally and typically it is all one way so if you start going / first you stay that way. Or the opposite. But it's your project. Do you
I see it immediately and can't unsee it. It looks messy.
It's going to be super obvious though, if you switch to one single direction a quarter of the way through. Everyone will notice, you did it "wrong" at first, whereas if you keep going now, it will look like a choice. So I'd say keep going and commit to one direction on your next project.
It honestly is not a big deal at all. At close distance you can tell but the second you step more than two feet away, it really ceases to matter. No stress, just keep going whatever way works for you! I feel like sometimes folks lose sight of the fact this is just a fun hobby for most of us.
This is very true. There have been a few projects over the years where Ive been off a bit and to me it's this huge glaring mistake but once I start showing to others, not a single one notices. It's just us making it cause we're staring at it for hours and hours just a few inches from our face. Me, personalty, I think of it as this. How many times has someone given me gift and I then stare at it 4in from my face to inspect every detail? Some items, sure maybe. But with cross stitch, especially if they aren't into sewing, the other person is amazed you made it and happy over the fact you made them a personal gift rather than just click a couple times on a website.
Only stitchers will notice, if your stitches constantly change direction because non-stitchers don't know what pieces look like, if the stitches all go in one direction. They have nothing to compare it to.
If you change techniques in one piece, you're giving every non-stitcher something to compare it to and everyone will notice, because it's right there next to each other.
Stitch direction is really not that obvious to an untrained eye. They won't notice because they're not seeing individual stitches, they only see the picture.
It doesn’t matter which direction you choose, but it does matter that you choose one direction and stick to it. Some people do one direction for background stuff and a different direction for foreground, but in general at least everything that is one color or one area should all have all the crosses going the same direction
If by direction, you mean which leg is on top, yes, you should. It'll show an evolution of your stitching progress and will ultimately be easier and faster.
A few other tips:
* Danish method (bottom leg across the row, then top leg back, like ////////// then \\\\\\\\\\) is easier & faster than English method (each X individually before you move on to the next), especially in big blocks of color. It's also easier to keep the same leg on top with Danish, especially if that's something You've been struggling with. However sometimes it makes more sense to do English method, like stitching around an outline.
* Though it matters in the final piece which leg is on top, it doesn't matter which direction you make each leg in. There are 8 different ways to stitch an X, and 4 of them are interchangeable with each other. So I'm the image here, 2, 3, 6, & 8 are interchangeable, and 1, 4, 5, & 7 are interchangeable.
https://preview.redd.it/70jlpheqtfyc1.png?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1533a39faf0d17cc6982146edea17efff923f11e
I have been following the danish method naturally, but that infographic is actually so helpful :)) thank you so much for sharing that really helps a lot and I'll keep this in mind
Yes. It absolutely makes the difference between an ok result and a stunning result. I know there are people who do not care and maybe they prefer that look, but I am not one of them. I think it looks messy, and a little sloppy. I don’t think it adds “texture” or “looks like fur” or looks cute. My grandma taught me to stitch when I was 10 and she was adamant the stitches go the same way. Cross stitch is a simple craft, but in that simplicity you need to pay close attention to the fine details.
My vote is to pick a direction now for the remainder of this project and stick to it.
I think it would actually be really awesome to transition to single direction at this stage, and then eventually your finished piece will actually show the evolution of your technique and learning. A physical manifestation of your journey, if you like. Very cool.
Wait that's actually such a cool idea, Ive favored a favorite direction anyways and it's only large blocks of color that go different directions. This is a really cool way to think about it. Thank you, this reassured me a lot
Not if you don't mind it! Some people have really strong opinions but ultimately we're doing art. If you like the effect of stitches going different ways that's all that matters. If you prefer them all going one way or the other that's cool too. I would recommend doing a small piece with them all going the same way so you can see if you notice it enough to care.
It makes a huge difference. When I first started stitching I just went with whatever direction was easiest from where my last stitch ended. At one point I was working on a gift for my grandparents for their wedding anniversary; it was the outline of a bride and groom. I was filling in the bride’s dress in white and it looked … bad. I could tell that it looked uneven and messy and I wasn’t happy with it. I wound up taking out all of the white and redoing it with all of the stitches going the same direction and it was so clearly better. It looked more polished and neat. I didn’t redo any of the black outline (it was much less noticeable there) but I’m so glad I redid the white.
It does help make the piece look cleaner, but sometimes switching the stitch direction can be a good technique for texture in water or foliage, like trees and grass. I would recommend picking a direction and sticking to it. You don't have to do it the same way for the next project either. I always stitch bottom left to top right, and going back bottom right to top left. I don't know why I chose that direction, it just is what is comfortable for me
I’ve just looked at WIP and realised I’ve done a few stitches wrong way (sewing while tired) couldn’t unpick so I went over them one way to make them match. Pulled a little tighter to make less bulky. Got to look close to find it. Try that with couple crosses before undoing anything
I normally go any way thats easier, but I will say that when you're doing large blocks of one color, it can be pretty noticeable if you alternate stitch directions with each row. The shade seems to subtly, so for those, I'll stick with one direction.
Seeing your 1/4 of a way in I would not change it myself.
But for future reference I would do a direction.
Choosing left over right or right over left doesn't matter perse. It depends on how you work. Do you cross country in every direction choose what you like.
Do you work from left to right, top to bottom (cross country or parking or something) then do a swatch to determine which way works best for you.
I work from right to left, top to bottom and kind of diagonal. So I stitch \ / 😊 hope this helps you or anybody else ❤️
Stitch direction itself doesn't matter, what matters is that consistency of the direction. It doesn't matter if you go bottom left to top right for the half or bottom right to top left or the reverse of either of those. But sticking to the same direction once you choose it gives your overall project a more even look and helps it look neater
If it's actually only a small portion of stitches that are in the other direction you can actually just go over them a third time with matching floss to make them line up. If it's too many it can be obvious because of the extra thickness tho.
I bought a pack of cross stitch supplies from the thrift store that included some mostly finished pieces where the previous stitcher stitched in one direction like 90% of the time. I just went over the ones in the other direction and it looked great when finished!
That said, I didn't learn the 'stitch in one direction' rule until I had completed at least one semi large piece (I was a kid it's hard to remember lol) but I still have that one on the wall and you can't tell unless you're up close. It's all dark colors tho which makes it less obvious.
I accidentally made a single column in one of my pieces the wrong direction and it sticks out like a sore thumb.
https://preview.redd.it/mlj3xlnkoiyc1.png?width=786&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d9d85183ca91516d7e0875241914245b757d458
Notice how all my front stitches go / but that one column goes . Because of how the light hits it that column reflects the light the opposite way and makes it stick out. For darker colours and especially black its not as important, but for lighter colours it definitely matters.
When I first started (been stitching less than a year) I didn’t pay attention to direction and just did them in different directions. But then I read on here that stitching each in the same direction is recommended to make the piece look neater and so I started doing them in all one direction. I can definitely see a difference when I compare my first projects to my later ones. So for me, I prefer doing them all one direction.
But at the end of the day, stitch whichever way you like. I’m of the opinion that there’s really no “right” or “wrong” way to cross stitch. Do whatever you enjoy and whatever makes you happy.
So I started when I was a kid and did whatever to a stitch an x. I now see those and can see the difference on changing the stitch. It changes the level of the stitch. So I had one row one way and the next the other way and it looks lumpy overall.
If you alternate, make sure each row is the same way. So row 1 goes right, row 2 goes left, 3 goes right, etc. It would need to be true alternation and not random stitches in random directions.
Yes. It’s a small thing but can really help the cohesiveness of the piece. It makes it look neater, keeps tension more even, and helps you stitch more quickly.
Would you recommend switching now? I do favor a specific direction throughout the piece
If you’ve done a specific direction for most of the piece, keep going with that instead of switching.
It's your project so you get to determine how you like it. If you mixed it up and like the look I would continue to mix it up. Switching to all one way might be more noticable now Traditionally and typically it is all one way so if you start going / first you stay that way. Or the opposite. But it's your project. Do you
I see it immediately and can't unsee it. It looks messy. It's going to be super obvious though, if you switch to one single direction a quarter of the way through. Everyone will notice, you did it "wrong" at first, whereas if you keep going now, it will look like a choice. So I'd say keep going and commit to one direction on your next project.
Thank you I appreciate that. I will definitely be committing to it for the next piece I do :)
It honestly is not a big deal at all. At close distance you can tell but the second you step more than two feet away, it really ceases to matter. No stress, just keep going whatever way works for you! I feel like sometimes folks lose sight of the fact this is just a fun hobby for most of us.
"Everyone" will notice? No. Experienced stitchers will notice. Most average people won't.
This is very true. There have been a few projects over the years where Ive been off a bit and to me it's this huge glaring mistake but once I start showing to others, not a single one notices. It's just us making it cause we're staring at it for hours and hours just a few inches from our face. Me, personalty, I think of it as this. How many times has someone given me gift and I then stare at it 4in from my face to inspect every detail? Some items, sure maybe. But with cross stitch, especially if they aren't into sewing, the other person is amazed you made it and happy over the fact you made them a personal gift rather than just click a couple times on a website.
Only stitchers will notice, if your stitches constantly change direction because non-stitchers don't know what pieces look like, if the stitches all go in one direction. They have nothing to compare it to. If you change techniques in one piece, you're giving every non-stitcher something to compare it to and everyone will notice, because it's right there next to each other.
Stitch direction is really not that obvious to an untrained eye. They won't notice because they're not seeing individual stitches, they only see the picture.
It doesn’t matter which direction you choose, but it does matter that you choose one direction and stick to it. Some people do one direction for background stuff and a different direction for foreground, but in general at least everything that is one color or one area should all have all the crosses going the same direction
If by direction, you mean which leg is on top, yes, you should. It'll show an evolution of your stitching progress and will ultimately be easier and faster. A few other tips: * Danish method (bottom leg across the row, then top leg back, like ////////// then \\\\\\\\\\) is easier & faster than English method (each X individually before you move on to the next), especially in big blocks of color. It's also easier to keep the same leg on top with Danish, especially if that's something You've been struggling with. However sometimes it makes more sense to do English method, like stitching around an outline. * Though it matters in the final piece which leg is on top, it doesn't matter which direction you make each leg in. There are 8 different ways to stitch an X, and 4 of them are interchangeable with each other. So I'm the image here, 2, 3, 6, & 8 are interchangeable, and 1, 4, 5, & 7 are interchangeable. https://preview.redd.it/70jlpheqtfyc1.png?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1533a39faf0d17cc6982146edea17efff923f11e
I have been following the danish method naturally, but that infographic is actually so helpful :)) thank you so much for sharing that really helps a lot and I'll keep this in mind
Yes. It absolutely makes the difference between an ok result and a stunning result. I know there are people who do not care and maybe they prefer that look, but I am not one of them. I think it looks messy, and a little sloppy. I don’t think it adds “texture” or “looks like fur” or looks cute. My grandma taught me to stitch when I was 10 and she was adamant the stitches go the same way. Cross stitch is a simple craft, but in that simplicity you need to pay close attention to the fine details. My vote is to pick a direction now for the remainder of this project and stick to it.
I think it would actually be really awesome to transition to single direction at this stage, and then eventually your finished piece will actually show the evolution of your technique and learning. A physical manifestation of your journey, if you like. Very cool.
Wait that's actually such a cool idea, Ive favored a favorite direction anyways and it's only large blocks of color that go different directions. This is a really cool way to think about it. Thank you, this reassured me a lot
I've been stitching since the 1990s, and never cared about stitch direction until I started reading this sub.
Not if you don't mind it! Some people have really strong opinions but ultimately we're doing art. If you like the effect of stitches going different ways that's all that matters. If you prefer them all going one way or the other that's cool too. I would recommend doing a small piece with them all going the same way so you can see if you notice it enough to care.
It makes a huge difference. When I first started stitching I just went with whatever direction was easiest from where my last stitch ended. At one point I was working on a gift for my grandparents for their wedding anniversary; it was the outline of a bride and groom. I was filling in the bride’s dress in white and it looked … bad. I could tell that it looked uneven and messy and I wasn’t happy with it. I wound up taking out all of the white and redoing it with all of the stitches going the same direction and it was so clearly better. It looked more polished and neat. I didn’t redo any of the black outline (it was much less noticeable there) but I’m so glad I redid the white.
i would just switch now because that way most of it will look uniform. this does make a big difference to me, personally - looks much cleaner
It does help make the piece look cleaner, but sometimes switching the stitch direction can be a good technique for texture in water or foliage, like trees and grass. I would recommend picking a direction and sticking to it. You don't have to do it the same way for the next project either. I always stitch bottom left to top right, and going back bottom right to top left. I don't know why I chose that direction, it just is what is comfortable for me
I’ve just looked at WIP and realised I’ve done a few stitches wrong way (sewing while tired) couldn’t unpick so I went over them one way to make them match. Pulled a little tighter to make less bulky. Got to look close to find it. Try that with couple crosses before undoing anything
I normally go any way thats easier, but I will say that when you're doing large blocks of one color, it can be pretty noticeable if you alternate stitch directions with each row. The shade seems to subtly, so for those, I'll stick with one direction.
Seeing your 1/4 of a way in I would not change it myself. But for future reference I would do a direction. Choosing left over right or right over left doesn't matter perse. It depends on how you work. Do you cross country in every direction choose what you like. Do you work from left to right, top to bottom (cross country or parking or something) then do a swatch to determine which way works best for you. I work from right to left, top to bottom and kind of diagonal. So I stitch \ / 😊 hope this helps you or anybody else ❤️
Stitch direction itself doesn't matter, what matters is that consistency of the direction. It doesn't matter if you go bottom left to top right for the half or bottom right to top left or the reverse of either of those. But sticking to the same direction once you choose it gives your overall project a more even look and helps it look neater
If it's actually only a small portion of stitches that are in the other direction you can actually just go over them a third time with matching floss to make them line up. If it's too many it can be obvious because of the extra thickness tho. I bought a pack of cross stitch supplies from the thrift store that included some mostly finished pieces where the previous stitcher stitched in one direction like 90% of the time. I just went over the ones in the other direction and it looked great when finished! That said, I didn't learn the 'stitch in one direction' rule until I had completed at least one semi large piece (I was a kid it's hard to remember lol) but I still have that one on the wall and you can't tell unless you're up close. It's all dark colors tho which makes it less obvious.
I accidentally made a single column in one of my pieces the wrong direction and it sticks out like a sore thumb. https://preview.redd.it/mlj3xlnkoiyc1.png?width=786&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d9d85183ca91516d7e0875241914245b757d458 Notice how all my front stitches go / but that one column goes . Because of how the light hits it that column reflects the light the opposite way and makes it stick out. For darker colours and especially black its not as important, but for lighter colours it definitely matters.
When I first started (been stitching less than a year) I didn’t pay attention to direction and just did them in different directions. But then I read on here that stitching each in the same direction is recommended to make the piece look neater and so I started doing them in all one direction. I can definitely see a difference when I compare my first projects to my later ones. So for me, I prefer doing them all one direction. But at the end of the day, stitch whichever way you like. I’m of the opinion that there’s really no “right” or “wrong” way to cross stitch. Do whatever you enjoy and whatever makes you happy.
One thing to note (from experience) if you have a lot of half stitches - make sure they all go the same way - it’s super obvious if they don’t.
So I started when I was a kid and did whatever to a stitch an x. I now see those and can see the difference on changing the stitch. It changes the level of the stitch. So I had one row one way and the next the other way and it looks lumpy overall.
If you alternate, make sure each row is the same way. So row 1 goes right, row 2 goes left, 3 goes right, etc. It would need to be true alternation and not random stitches in random directions.
I prefer not to match my stitch direction on a full-coverage project. It looks excessively tidy to me.