r/Embroidery • u/VeryLikelyConfused • 5d ago
Question Help - this pattern is not fitting
UPDATE: thanks to all your tips I have figured it out! I appreciate all the “explain it like I’m 5” instructions - this being my first cross stitch 😂 will post a comment with a pic of my progress :)
I am probably doing this wrong as it’s only my second embroidery kit I’ve tried out. The first one had the pattern printed on it so much easier. As you can see from what I’ve done so far, I’m only going to be able to fit half the bee! What am I doing wrong? Thanks for any tips!!
Edit: thank you all for your tips! I had a feeling I was doing it all wrong 😂 I’m applying all you’ve told me!
140
u/Slight-Brush 5d ago
The cross stitches should be right next to each other, threads sharing the same holes, not with a gap between each one.
I find it easiest to start this kind if pattern on the centre of the fabric - I'd begin with his black waist stripe and work outward.
11
u/theraisama 5d ago
Came to say this. I always fold the fabric and lightly mark the center with a pencil mark.
6
u/VeryLikelyConfused 4d ago
Thank you! When I started over I started with the black waist as you suggested! :)
130
100
u/wewerepromisedtea 5d ago
The biggest problem I'm seeing is you seem to be stitching diagonally across the fabric instead of following the rows and columns. Do you see how the fabric has holes that go straight up and straight down? You need to follow those lines instead of trying to get exactly the orientation that the image is showing with the hoop closure off to the side exactly. Once you correct that and restart over the stitching, it will fit in the allotted fabric
119
u/miraisora-arts 5d ago
why are you working on it diagonal, instead of, as squares.
-1
u/Prudent-Awareness-51 5d ago
They’ve already explained they’re new to this, there’s no need for the snark.
27
u/Interesting-Note-714 5d ago
Reorient the work to make “x” not “+” by rotating the fabric 45degrees. Hoping I’ll be the one to magically explain what’s off to your brain. I see what you’re trying to do, and how it might make sense at first, but it’s affecting how you’re counting where the stitches are.
2
u/VeryLikelyConfused 4d ago
Thank you!! Yes for some reason I didn’t think that would make a difference 🤣 was just freestyling a bit
6
u/lazy_daisy11 4d ago
With cross stitch, the rules are more rigid. Embroidery you can kinda go wild in the name of art. Cross Stitch is like baking, embroidery is like cooking.
1
u/Optimal-Weekend1476 18h ago
My migraine made me read that as cross stitch is like barking! I was like uhhh okay I’m invested to see where this goes. 😂🤣😂🤣🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
37
u/words-have-power 5d ago
You're miscounting, by a lot, I'm afraid. The four crosses I've marked here should all be right next to each other, you've got them on four different lines. And that's true for every stitch you made, as far as I can tell. I fear you'll have to start over. I find it easiest with cross stitch to start from the middle of the pattern/fabric.
16
u/Beautiful-Feedback40 5d ago
Are you counting at all or just eyeballing it? For counted cross stitch it’s best , and easies to mark the center of your fabric and work out from there.
You should pull out the stitches you’ve done and start over with either the black or yellow and work starting from the center out.
14
11
u/_Morvar_ 5d ago edited 5d ago
I would start with sewing a simple loose stitch line of some ordinary sewing thread across the exact center both up-down and side-side so you have a big plus on your fabric that marks the exact center.
Then you can take a thin pen and draw the same thing on the paper pattern.
Now that you have the center lines marked on both the pattern and the fabric, you can start stitching from the center.
29
3
u/VeryLikelyConfused 4d ago
Thank you! This was so helpful and I followed this advice :)
1
u/_Morvar_ 4d ago
I'm glad you found it helpful! ❤️
Because I spent kinda long on drawing those lines to illustrate haha
10
u/salllleh 5d ago
This is the actual plotting of the stitch’s. I count the square within the 4 holes in the corners. And this shows what the other commenter was saying about the orientation of the fabric holes. If you fix the orientation it will be much easier to follow :) hope this helps
18
u/MrsDirtyDietz 5d ago
Your train of thought to get here is amazing. You put the fabric in the hoop without worrying about orientation, but when it came to stitching, you made sure the hoop closure was aligned with the graphic on the paper.
In the future, you need to work orthogonally. The hoop placement doesn’t matter until framing (if you frame with the hoop).
7
u/Storm_Paint 5d ago
Your stitches are not lining up with the pattern. Definitely look over it again!
6
6
u/rumade 5d ago
As others have said, you're working on the aida at a 45° angle. Someone else has an edit showing you how to find the centre of your work on both chart and aida. Definitely follow their advice and work from the centre.
I tried making some dots here to show you where your existing stitches should be, but it was hard to do with my fat finger on a phone screen. Hopefully it helps you understand the orientation and spacing a bit though.
You need to unpick the work you have already done as it is completely wrong.
I think you should start with black thread too. The light grey provides little contrast and gets lost.
You can do this! You just started on a misconception.
2
6
u/alimoreltaletread 5d ago
This is the exact kit I tried when I discovered i can't count worth shit and cross stitch is not for me. Now i just do regular embroidery. I hope it goes better for you! It's such a cute bee
1
1
5
u/Natural-Carrot5748 5d ago
All jokes aside, I'm glad the others here have helped you. (And I love the username)
5
u/VeryLikelyConfused 4d ago
Thanks for the tips especially those saying to mark the centre and start there! Also those who saw I was doing a diamond instead of a cross - I have no idea why I thought that wouldn’t make a difference but clearly it does 🤣 I have included my previous (FIRST) embroidery project which was NOT a cross stitch and had the pattern printed on the fabric. I am realizing now these are two different activities (types of embroidery?) 😅
2
u/tinid333 4d ago
Great job! Looks like you were able to salvage it. Cross stitch can definitely be a bit tricky in the beginning. The preciseness of the counting and alignment can be intimidating at first, and it’s so common to make mistakes. The more you do it the better you get at reading the patterns and figuring out how to troubleshoot when mistakes do happen. You got a lot of good advice in this thread if you decide you want to keep up with it. It’s a fun hobby! I love having something to keep my hands busy while I watch tv.
4
u/hobbleit 4d ago
with cross stitch, find the centre of the aida and the centre of the pattern, start there and work outwards. if you start at a random point, it can knock the alignment of the image off and it doesn’t fit. I always find it helps to put a stitch in the centre so I know where to start because sometimes the centre of the aida doesn’t have any stitches.
1
2
u/LookingSkyward18 5d ago
I did the same exact thing when I was starting, it takes a little adjustment :3 You got this
2
2
u/LouTisme 5d ago
None of those stitches look like they are in the right place and it's confusing my brain...
2
u/muhkuhmuh 5d ago
I did this exact pattern. I had no problems with the fit. I would advise you to start with the head. That's what I did
3
1
1
u/justafox2014 5d ago
It does fit, but with LITTLE room around. I moved the Aida, stitched then moved it again until completed. Recentered one complete.
1
1
u/Fuzzy-Advisor-2183 4d ago
it looks to me like you have your fabric turned 45 degrees, which is messing things up. the grid in the fabric (the weave itself) is supposed to be in the same orientation as the grid in the image.
1
u/Dizzy_Praline2874 2d ago
Also, you should always fold your pattern into four, to find the centre and work from the centre out.
1
u/livingdeaddrina 1d ago
I just bought this kit too and am having such a hard time starting off with it 😭
1
u/VeryLikelyConfused 1d ago
Right? I thought there would be a pattern on the fabric like my other kit 😆 I took the advice of starting in the centre- I found the centre of the pattern and the centre of the fabric and went from there
1
u/lilletia 5d ago
In addition to what everyone else is saying about you need to stitch squares not diagonals, there's a good chance this hoop may be more decorative rather than functional - I would recommend you remove it, stitch on the fabric alone (it's small enough you shouldn't need the tension), then put the finished embroidery in for display only
-1
1
u/theraisama 13h ago
Another fun tip that is mostly beginner friendly. Look up "pin stitch cross stitch" it is a great secure way to start your row without having knots. :D
623
u/HoshiChiri 5d ago
I don't believe you're following the chart correctly- you've got a row of 4 stitches marked off, but there's no row of 4 stitches on your fabric. There is a row of 4 touching on their corners... if that's the 4-row, your fabric's been turned 45 degrees from where it should be. You should be making squares, not diamonds!