How to Stitch a Rice Cross-Stitch

A rice cross-stitch is often worked across two squares of Aida fabric. It is performed by completing a traditional cross-stitch first, and then adding quarter-stitches in each of the squares. The finished look is of a cross-stitch with a diamond over the top of it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aida fabric
• Embroidery hoop
• Tapestry needle
• Embroidery floss
• Scissors

1. Thread your tapestry needle with a 12-inch length of embroidery floss and secure your Aida fabric into a small embroidery hoop.

2. Tie a small knot at the bottom of your embroidery floss so you can easily secure your first stitch.

3. Create a half cross-stitch by bringing your threaded needle up through the bottom left-hand corner and inserting the needle back through the top right corner of the square above. This stitch is often worked across 2 squares.

4. Complete another half cross-stitch by bring the needle up through the bottom corner on the right side of the square and into the upper corner on the left side of the top square.

5. Bring the needle up through the bottom corner on the left side of the first top square. Insert the needle into the top corner on the right side of the first top square to create a quarter-stitch.

6. Make another quarter-stitch by bringing the threaded needle up through the bottom corner on the right side of the top second square and into the top corner on the left side of the same square.

7. Complete 2 more quarter stitches in the same manner for the lower left and right squares.

Tips & Warnings

• To find the center of Aida fabric, count the number of squares and then divide by 2. Count in that many stitches and begin your first stitch.
• The rice cross-stitch can also be stitched over one square of Aida fabric.
• For a different look, switch to a different color of embroidery floss before beginning Step 5.