A Mother’s Love

Cross Stitch

Stitch a beautiful tribute to motherly love!

Design by Diane Brakefield

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 A Mother’s Love
Like flowers, children grow and bloom with loving care. This design
by Diane Brakefield captures the beauty of a mother’s sweet love. What
a wonderful gift it will make on Mother’s Day or any time of year!

HOW TO READ THE CHART HOW TO STITCH

Each section of the chart is made up of a key and a Always work Cross Stitches and Quarter Stitches first and
gridded design on which each square represents a stitch. then add the Backstitch and French Knots.
The symbols in the key tell which floss color to use for each
stitch in the chart. The following headings and symbols are How to Determine the Finished Size
given: The finished size of your design will depend on the thread
count per inch of the fabric being used. To determine the
X — Cross Stitch finished size of the design on different fabrics, divide the
DMC — DMC color number number of squares (stitches) in the width of the charted
1
/4X — Quarter Stitch design by the thread count of the fabric. For example,
1
/2X — Half Cross Stitch a charted design with a width of 80 squares worked on
B’ST — Backstitch 14 count Aida will yield a design 53/4" wide. Repeat for the
number of squares (stitches) in the height of the charted
A square filled with a color and a symbol should design. (Note: To work over two fabric threads, divide the
be worked as a Cross Stitch. number of squares by one-half the thread count.) Then add
the amount of background you want plus a generous
A triangle should be worked as a Quarter Stitch. amount for finishing, usually 3"-4" on all sides if the design
will be framed.
A straight line should be worked as a Backstitch.
Preparing Fabric
A large dot listed near the end of the key should Being sure to allow plenty of margin, cut the fabric to
be worked as a French Knot or it may indicate the desired size and overcast the raw edges. It is better
bead placement. to waste a little fabric than to come up short after many
hours of stitching.
Sometimes the symbol for a Cross Stitch may be partially
covered or completely absent when a Backstitch crosses Working with Floss
the square. Refer to the background color to determine To ensure smoother stitches, separate floss strands and
the floss color. realign them before threading the needle. Keep stitching
tension consistent. Begin and end floss by running under
several stitches on the back; never tie knots.

LEISURE ARTS, INC. • Maumelle, Arkansas

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 HOW TO STITCH (Continued) STITCH DIAGRAMS
Where to Start When stitching, bring the threaded needle up at 1 and all
The horizontal and vertical centers of the charted design odd numbers and down at 2 and all even numbers.
are shown by arrows. You may start at any point on the
charted design, but be sure the design will be centered on Cross Stitch (X): For horizontal rows, work stitches in two
the fabric. Locate the center of the fabric by folding it in journeys (Fig. 2). For vertical rows, complete each stitch as
half, top to bottom and again left to right. On the charted shown (Fig. 3). When working over two fabric threads, work
design, count the number of squares (stitches) from the Cross Stitch as shown in Fig. 4.
center of the chart to where you wish to start. Then, from
the fabric’s center, find your starting point by counting Fig. 2 Fig. 3
out the number of fabric threads (stitches). (To work over
two fabric threads, count out twice the number of fabric
threads.)

To add support to stitches when stitching over two fabric

threads, it is important that the first Cross Stitch is placed
on the fabric with stitch 1-2 beginning and ending where a
vertical fabric thread crosses over a horizontal fabric thread
(Fig. 1). When the first stitch is in the correct position, the
entire design will be placed properly, with vertical fabric
threads supporting each stitch. Fig. 4

Fig. 1

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 Quarter Stitch (1/4X): Come up at 1, and then split the French Knot: Bring the needle up at 1. Wrap the floss once
fabric thread to go down at 2 (Fig. 5). Fig. 6 shows the around the needle. Insert the needle at 2, tighten the knot,
technique for the Quarter Stitch when working over two and pull the needle through the fabric, holding the floss
fabric threads. until it must be released (Fig. 9). For a larger knot, use more
floss strands and wrap only once.
Fig. 5 Fig. 6
Fig. 9

Backstitch (B’ST): For outlines and details, Backstitch

should be worked after the design has been completed THE SEWING METHOD
(Fig. 7). When working over two fabric threads, work the Cross Stitches should be worked over two fabric threads
Backstitch as shown in Fig. 8. on linen fabric. When working over two fabric threads, you
may choose to use the sewing method instead of the stab
Fig. 7 Fig. 8 method.

To use the sewing method, keep your stitching hand on

the right side of the fabric (instead of stabbing the fabric
with the needle and taking your stitching hand to the
back of the fabric to pick up the needle). With the sewing
method, you take the needle down and up with one stroke
instead of two.

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 A Mother’s Love X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X X DMC 1/4 X
The design was stitched over 2 fabric blanc 413 554 746
threads on a 17" x 18" piece of 211 414 646 762
32 count Antique White Belfast Linen 310 415 647 772
(design size 87/8" x 101/4"). Two strands 318 436 648 775
of floss were used for Cross Stitches 320 500 704 800
and Quarter Stitches and 1 strand for 327 502 718 840
Backstitches and French Knots. The 340 503 722 841
design was custom framed. 367 504 725 991
368 550 726 3031
4 www.leisurearts.com 369 553 727 3047

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X DMC 1/4 X X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X X DMC 1/4 X
554 746 3078 3755 Stitch Count (141w x 164h)
646 762 3347 3773 14 count 101/8" x 113/4"
647 772 3608 3778 16 count 87/8" x 101/4"
648 775 3609 3782 18 count 77/8" x 91/8"
704 800 3685 3816
718 840 3687 3821
722 841 3688 500 French Knot
725 991 3689 Blue area indicates
726 3031 3746 last row of previous
727 3047 3747 section of design. 5

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 X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X X DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X X DM
blanc 413 554 746 3078 375
211 414 646 762 3347 377
310 415 647 772 3608 377
318 436 648 775 3609 378
320 500 704 800 3685 381
327 502 718 840 3687 382
340 503 722 841 3688 500
367 504 725 991 3689 Blue
368 550 726 3031 3746 last
369 553 727 3047 3747 sect
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DMC 1/4 X B’ST X DMC 1/4 X X DMC 1/4 X
746 3078 3755
762 3347 3773
772 3608 3778
775 3609 3782
800 3685 3816
840 3687 3821
841 3688 500 French Knot
991 3689 Blue area indicates
3031 3746 last row of previous
3047 3747 section of design.
7

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 Copyright © 2016 by Leisure Arts, Inc., 104 Champs Blvd., STE 100, Maumelle, AR 72113-6738. All rights reserved. This publication is protected under
federal copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of this publication or any other Leisure Arts publication, including publications which are out
of print, is prohibited unless specifically authorized. This includes, but is not limited to, any form of reproduction or distribution on or through the
Internet, including posting, scanning, or e-mail transmission.

We have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. We cannot, however, be responsible for human error,
typographical mistakes, or variations in individual work.

Production Team: Technical Writer – Mary Hutcheson; Editorial Writer – Susan Frantz Wiles; Senior Graphic Artist – Lora Puls;
Graphic Artist – Frances Huddleston; Photographer – Ken West .

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 With its beautiful flowers and sweet words, this design makes a perfect show
of appreciation to the woman who has nurtured you through childhood.

UPC
EAN

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