Cross stitch, also known as counted cross stitch, is an ancient embroidery technique used to create different colored areas for a solid, filled effect, like painting a picture in thread.

This guide will clearly show you how to cross stitch to create mini works of art on canvas or fabric.http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/cross-stitch.htm The beauty of this type of artwork is that you dont even need to be able to draw, and the materials required are very basic. All you will need are a needle, colored or appropriate embroidery thread and a piece of suitable embroidery fabric.

Here we will learn the very basic method of creating a cross stitch that can be used in "painting" pictures using thread on fabric. The fabric you choose will determine the weight of thread you use; the heavier the fabric, the thicker the thread.

You will want to use a needle specifically designed for embroidery, as these have longer "eyes" for ease of threading.

Take approximately 20 inches of your chosen yarn and thread it into your needle.

Now push the needle up through the material and pull through (this we will call point A), leaving a couple of inches of thread at the back of your work.

Now, counting an equal number of threads across and down, push your needle back through to the reverse (point B), creating the first diagonal of the cross.

Bring the needle back through the material to the front at the point equally distant from points A and B, beginning the second half of the cross or X.

Now push to needle back through to the reverse at the second point equally distant from points A and B, diagonally across from where you have just brought the needle up, this creates the second half of the cross.

Proceed to create the second cross or X by bringing the needle back to the front at a point equally distant across from your the beginning of your first stitch, complete the first half of the X and cross it for the second half, as before.

Ensure each X is created in exactly the same direction, you do not want the left to right diagonal sitting over the right to left diagonal on one stitch and then have it reversed on the second or third one. This will make your work look uneven and messy.

When you have completed that particular set of X's, you will finish by running the needle and thread through the back of 5 or 6 stitches to secure the thread.