4 Major Differences Between Embroidery And Cross Stitch

If you're also looking for embroidery vs cross-stitch answers, here's a great tips from Eagle Digitizing for everyone who loves to sew. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced craftsman, this blog will be helpful for you!

What is the difference between embroidery and cross stitch?

1. Purpose

You already know that embroidery is related to the craft of embellishing fabric with other types of materials done with needle or thread. Meanwhile, cross stitch is a unique embroidery technique in which an embroiderer should use X-stitches to create designs or patterns on fabric.

2. Sutures

You should focus on using the correct X-stitch and other stitches such as run stitch, chain stitch; blanket stitch should be used in cross-stitch embroidery.

3. Fabric

Another difference between embroidery and cross-stitch is the type of fabric. While cross stitch requires woven fabrics, embroidery work requires the use of a variety of fabrics. The fabrics of the two are different, and the choice of fabric is very important. You can also cross stitch with linen or aida fabric and embroider with other fabrics like linen, cotton, scrap canvas, silk, etc.

Choose a fabric that matches your craft. Then, depending on the project, you should choose the structure.

4. Needle

Both cross-stitch and embroidery require different needles for sewing projects. Both embroidery and cross-stitch projects require some type of needle.

Without the right needle, you can get accurate results for your project. Whether you use embroidery or cross stitch, the needle size, point, and eye are all that matters.

For the needle point, cross stitch needles have blunt and rounded ends. At the same time, the tip of the embroidery needle is sharp, and for the size of the needle, the correct needle is necessary. You need a large needle for cross stitch and a small needle for embroidery.

What is Embroidery?

Starting with embroidery, there is an art to decorating some material with the help of thread and needles. This is a broad term used to refer to unique fabric techniques that can be used for upholstery fabrics.

It involves using different types of stitches and decorative beads or petals to create beautiful designs. Some other elements used in embroidery are sequins, quills, yarn, etc.

You can use an embroidery machine or make embroidery designs by hand. Hand embroidery can be used with a wider selection of fabrics and allows you to work with more unique designs

Hand embroidery designs are unique works of art with the designer's personal touch and design. There are many embroidery works out there such as crew work, drawn thread embroidery, needle point, stump work and many more.

Several different knots and stitches can be combined to create designs and patterns. As you can see, the embroidery relies on only one stitch throughout the project.

Today, needlework is above fashion clothes. You can follow specific embroidery patterns in your sewing projects, but hand embroidery doesn't use counting or pattern stitches.

Instead, you can use some common stitches: French knot, lazy daisy, back stitch, herringbone stitch, satin stitch, etc. Hand embroidery is much more accessible when it comes to mixing together, since only a few long or short stitches are needed to bring the colors together.

There are also three-dimensional stitches, such as cast stitch, herringbone stitch, and pinwheel rose.

Meanwhile, machine embroidery involves embroidery or automatic sewing machines that create various patterns and designs on fabric.

Machine embroidery is more convenient and time-saving than hand embroidery work, but hand embroidery allows you to use more creativity and technique.

What is cross stitch?

Cross-stitch is a form of hand embroidery that uses conform and X-shaped stitches to tile a pattern. It is one of the oldest forms of hand embroidery.

It has become quite famous in recent years, and for good reason. It's ideal for beginner needleworkers for a few reasons.

The first reason is that cross stitch uses the basic X stitch, which is the easiest stitch pattern to learn. It can be used to create cross-stitch art and you don't need to learn different embroidery methods at first.

The second reason cross stitch is popular among beginners is that it is a form of counted thread embroidery and uses tiled patterns. When cross-stitching, you use a pre-planned design printed on the fabric of your choice and follow the color cross-stitch pattern.

Because cross-stitch uses tiled patterns, the designs often look angular and boxy. Nonetheless, it can be used to create attractive and intricate designs and is often used to embroider slogans or text on fabric.

One can do cross stitch on a woven fabric with holes in a grid system, where the colored threads should go. Commonly used fabrics in cross stitch for beginners are Cotton, Jobran and Lugana.

However, cross stitch uses embroidery floss, but only two or three of the six strands are needed. The final product usually lies flat on the fabric compared to other types of needlework which have a higher texture.

One can use master stitches in cross stitch: full stitch – X shape, half stitch – diagonal, quarter stitch – half stitch and half stitch, three quarter stitch – three quarter and a half stitch, back stitch – Straight stitches, etc.

These are some of the main stitches used for cross stitch and can be varied in various ways to create various designs and patterns.

When it comes to stamped cross stitch, you can choose to print the pattern on the fabric, then use that pattern as a guide to come up with the final design. With counting cross stitch, you need to start at the center to develop the final design.

Keep in mind that the fabric you will be using should have a similar number of threads both vertically and horizontally, this is to get even stitches on your cross stitch designs. Generally, embroidery prefers cross stitch to create various decorative items such as cushions, wall hangings, bookmarks and coasters.