Cross stitch glossary

• Aida band – a narrow strip of aida, available in varying widths, and finished with a decorative edge
• Aperture – a hole through which a design is seen in cards and frames
• Backstitch – used to add detail and definition. See how to stitch it in our guide on page 8
• Beading needle – a longer, finer needle than a tapestry needle, used for adding seed beads to a design
• Counted stitches – embroidery stitches worked on counted, or evenly woven, fabrics like aida and evenweave. Cross stitch is the most basic counted stitch
• Fabric count – the number of holes per inch (HPI) on your fabric. The higher the number, the bigger your fabric will be
• Fabric size – the size of fabric needed for the design, including allowance for making up or framing
• Floss – USA term for stranded cotton thread
• Fractional stitches – made from either a quarter or three-quarters of a cross stitch, these allow you to create ‘rounded’ edges. See how to make these in our guide on page 8
• Half stitch – made up of only one half (‘arm’) of a cross stitch, it gives less dense coverage and an overall lighter effect in the design
• Hoop – a wooden or spring-mounted plastic circular frame that holds your fabric taut
• Key – a list of all the threads and stitches used in a design and their respective chart symbols
• Longstitch – long backstitches, crossing larger fabric distances
• Metallic threads – similar to stranded cotton thread, these have a metallic finish for shine and sparkle
• Skein – a length of stranded cotton, bound together
• Soluble canvas – temporary fabric which, like waste canvas, is used to add cross stitching to non-counted fabrics, and then dissolved away in water
• Stitching over two – term used to describe stitching over two threads of the weave, such as on an evenweave fabric
• Stranded cotton – the thread used for counted cross stitch, divisible by 6 strands
• Thread conditioner – a product for conditioning your threads prior to use. Especially recommended for metallics
• Variegated thread – specific type of stranded cotton, in which the colour changes along the length of the thread for a shaded effect
• Waste canvas – loosely woven fabric, held together with soluble glue. Used to stitch onto non-counted fabrics similar to soluble canvas