How to Convert Needlepoint Chart to Counted Cross Stitch

A cross-stitch project

Both needlepoint and cross-stitch are counted thread embroidery techniques, and the charted designs look similar. On both types of chart, each square generally represents one basic stitch--in needlepoint the basic stitch is the tent stitch, and in cross-stitch it's the full cross-stitch--but may also combine multiple squares to place specialty stitches. Converting charts intended for needlepoint to cross-stitch is easier than converting cross-stitch charts to needlepoint because needlepoint does not use any fractional stitches and the designs are usually less detailed.

Instructions

1. Evaluate the chart's conversion potential. Make sure it has enough detail to be an interesting cross-stitch piece. Many needlepoint charts contain large areas of one color and rely on the texture of the stitches to provide visual interest. Such a design could turn out looking too blocky in cross-stitch.

2. Decide how much, if any, of the background stitching you want to include. Needlepoint charts fully cover the ground material because bare canvas is not attractive. If the background is not an important part of the design, you can opt to not stitch it and simply let the fabric show.

3. Select a fabric suitable for cross-stitch. Typically, cross-stitch is done on 14- to 18-count aida fabric or on 20- to 40-count linen or even-weave fabrics. You can either pick a neutral background color, or a color that complements the design. Hand-dyed fabrics have a mottled appearance that adds visual interest in the background.

4. Select threads suitable for cross-stitch. Needlepoint yarns are too thick to go through cross-stitch fabrics. Choose embroidery flosses and specialty threads in similar colors. Or, you can switch the colors around and create your own color palette. Buy at least one skein of each thread color, paying attention to dye lots as you would when buying yarns for needlepoint.

5. Plan the stitching. You can either stitch the piece with all cross-stitches, or do a combination of cross-stitches and specialty stitches. Many stitches used on needlepoint canvas can be successfully done on even-weave fabric. Patterns designed specifically for cross-stitch often call for a variety of specialty stitches along with the basic cross-stitch.

6. Use a smaller tapestry needle. The needle size depends on the thread count of the fabric. Counted cross-stitch generally uses size 24, 26 or 28 needles.

Tips & Warnings

• Stitch the design using two plies of embroidery floss in your needle. In some areas of the design, depending on the look and thread coverage you want, use more or fewer plies of thread.

• A strand of standard embroidery floss contains six plies of thread. Pull one ply out of the strand at a time to avoid tangling.

Resources

• Needlework FAQ: Counted Cross-Stitch Tutorial