Make a Match Cross-Stitch Hoop
You will need
- Droplet template
- 15cm square piece of white 14-count Aida
- Stranded cotton embroidery thread in red and black
- Red sewing thread
- Red seed beads
- Red sequins
- 3mm-wide red ribbon
- Embroidery needle
- Beading needle
- Tacking thread
- 10cm wooden embroidery hoop
To make
- Press the Aida fabric, then mark the centre lengthways and widthways, each with a line of tacking stitches worked through a row of holes. Mount the fabric in the embroidery hoop with tacking stitches centred.
- Print out the droplet template at 100% on A4 paper and cut out the medium size. Using a pencil, trace around its shape onto the fabric in the hoop, centralising it with the tacking stitches and making sure there is plenty of space below to add your wording.
- Using two strands of six-stranded thread in the embroidery needle, work cross-stitches to fill in the droplet shape, working stitches across one block at a time. If you are a beginner, see our stitch guide for how to work the stitches.
- Draw the outline of a second droplet, about 5mm away from the first one. Using a beading needle and red sewing thread, outline the cross-stitched droplet with seed beads and cover up the pencil line of the second droplet. Add sequins for sparkle if desired.
- Stitch the words ‘MAKE A MATCH’ centrally underneath the two droplets. Work the letters using backstitch and a single strand of six-stranded thread in the embroidery needle. Each letter is worked across four blocks of the Aida, and spaced one block apart, see our stitch guide for how to work the stitch.
- When the embroidery is finished, release the hoop and remove tacking threads. Place work face down on a padded surface and press on the wrong side, under a damp cloth, using light pressure to avoid flattening the stitches and embellishments. Remount work in the hoop, with the screw at the top and fold access fabric to the back. Hang using ribbon around the screw.
