Cross Stitch Glossary: Every Term You Need to Know
A-Z glossary of 100+ cross stitch terms, from Aida and backstitch to WIP and waste canvas. For beginners and experienced stitchers.
Cross stitch has its own language. If you’ve ever seen someone on Reddit talking about frogging their BAP while watching Flosstube and had no idea what was going on, this page is for you.
A
Aida – The most common fabric for cross stitch. A stiff, gridded cotton fabric with clearly visible holes that make it easy to count stitches. Common counts are 11, 14, 16, and 18. 14-count is the go-to for most stitchers.
Anchor – One of the major brands of embroidery floss, and the second most popular after DMC. Has its own color numbering system that doesn’t match DMC numbers. Slightly more common in the UK. Knytstudio supports Anchor thread colors.
B
Backstitch – An outlining stitch used to define edges and add detail to a cross stitch piece. Usually done in a single strand of dark thread after all the cross stitches are complete. Makes faces, text, and fine details pop.
BAP – Big Ass Project. A large, ambitious cross stitch piece that takes months or years to finish. Anything full coverage and over 200x200 stitches qualifies. See how long cross stitch projects actually take for realistic time estimates.
Beading – Adding small seed beads to a cross stitch design for texture and sparkle. Attached with a beading needle and half stitch.
Binca – A fabric similar to Aida but stiffer and coarser, usually in 6 or 11 count. Sometimes used for children’s projects. Fabric stores occasionally mislabel Aida as Binca.
Blending – Using two different colors of thread in the same needle at the same time to create a mixed color effect. Also called tweeding. Great for gradients and subtle color transitions.
Blending filament – A specialty thread (like Kreinik) that adds a subtle metallic or pearlescent effect when combined with regular floss in the needle. Feels a bit like fishing line.
Bobbin – A small plastic or cardboard card used to wind and store embroidery floss. Keeps your thread organized and tangle-free.
Bobbin ring – A large metal or plastic ring used to hold bobbins for the project you’re currently working on.
Bobbin winder – A small tool that helps you wind floss from the skein onto a bobbin without doing it by hand.
C
Chart – Another word for a cross stitch pattern. Each square on the chart represents one stitch, and the color or symbol tells you which thread to use.
Color chart – A version of the pattern printed in the actual thread colors. Easier to read at a glance than a symbol chart, but can be hard to distinguish similar shades.
Confetti – Scattered single stitches of different colors spread across a pattern, like thrown confetti. Very common in photo-to-pattern conversions. Makes patterns harder and more tedious to stitch because you’re constantly changing thread. Knytstudio has a built-in confetti removal tool that cleans these up automatically.
Conversion chart – A reference that maps thread colors from one brand to another (for example, DMC to Anchor). The colors don’t match perfectly, but they’re close enough. Knytstudio lets you pick your preferred brand during pattern setup.
Count – The number of holes or squares per inch on your fabric. A 14-count Aida has 14 squares per inch. Higher count means smaller stitches, more detail, and a smaller finished piece. Common counts: 11, 14, 16, 18, 22, 28. Use the fabric size calculator to see how count affects your finished dimensions.
Counted cross stitch – Cross stitch worked on plain fabric by following a printed or digital chart, as opposed to stamped cross stitch where the design is pre-printed on the fabric.
Cross country – A stitching method where you work one color continuously across large sections of a pattern before moving to the next color, rather than completing one small area at a time. Can use more thread but some stitchers prefer it.
D
Danish method – A cross stitch technique where you stitch a full row of half stitches (////) first, then come back across to complete the crosses (\\). Popular for filling large areas of one color. The opposite of the English method.
Dithering – A technique used in digital image processing where colors are scattered in a pattern to simulate gradients. In cross stitch pattern conversion, dithering can create a confetti-heavy pattern that looks good from a distance but is painful to stitch.
DMC – The most popular brand of embroidery floss worldwide. French company, hundreds of colors, each identified by a number (for example, DMC 310 is black). The standard that most patterns are designed around. Knytstudio supports DMC colors.
E
Easy count Aida – Aida fabric that comes with a pre-printed grid (usually 10x10 blocks) that washes out after stitching. Saves you the trouble of gridding.
Ecru – A cream or off-white color, similar to unbleached cotton. Both a common fabric color and a DMC thread color.
Embroidery floss – The thread used for cross stitch. Made of six loosely twisted strands that you separate before stitching. Most cross stitch uses two strands at a time. Also called stranded cotton, stranded thread, or just “floss.”
Embroidery hoop – A circular frame (usually wood or plastic) used to keep fabric taut while stitching. Comes in sizes from 2 to 12 inches. Can also be used to display finished pieces.
English method – A cross stitch technique where you complete each individual X before moving to the next stitch. The opposite of the Danish method. Better for scattered stitches and confetti-heavy areas.
Evenweave – A fabric with evenly spaced threads, softer and more flexible than Aida. Typically stitched “over two” threads. Common brands include Jobelan and Lugana. Popular with more experienced stitchers who like a softer drape.
F
Fabric count – See Count. The fabric size calculator helps you figure out finished dimensions for any count.
FAD – Fun and Done. A small, quick project you can finish in a sitting or two. The opposite of a BAP.
FFO – Fully Finished Object. A completed cross stitch piece that has been washed, pressed, and framed or otherwise finished into its final form.
Floss – See Embroidery floss.
Floss drop – A small decorative weight clipped to your thread to keep it hanging straight and prevent tangling while you stitch.
Flosstube – The cross stitch corner of YouTube. Stitchers film themselves showing their progress, hauls, finishes, and stash. A massive and active community.
FO – Finished Object. A piece where all the stitching is done, even if it hasn’t been washed, framed, or finished yet.
Fractional stitch – A quarter, half, or three-quarter stitch used to create smoother curves and diagonal lines. Easier on evenweave than Aida since you need to poke through the middle of a square.
Frame – A rectangular wooden or plastic frame used to hold fabric taut while stitching. Larger than a hoop and doesn’t need to be moved as often.
Fray check – A liquid sealant applied to the edges of fabric to stop it from fraying while you work.
French knot – A small decorative knot made by wrapping thread around the needle before inserting it back into the fabric. Used for tiny details like eyes and flower centers. Universally feared by beginners, eventually mastered by everyone.
Frogging – Ripping out stitches to fix a mistake. Named after the sound frogs make: “rip it, rip it.” Every stitcher’s least favorite activity but an unavoidable part of the craft.
Full coverage – A pattern where every single square on the fabric gets stitched, leaving no visible fabric. Photo patterns and HAED patterns are often full coverage. Full coverage projects take significantly longer — see realistic time estimates for different project sizes.
Full stitch – A complete cross stitch: one X made of two diagonal stitches crossing each other.
G
Gridding – Drawing a grid onto your fabric before you start stitching, usually in 10x10 blocks matching the pattern grid. Done with a water-soluble pen, fishing line, or specialty gridding thread. Makes counting much easier on large projects.
Grime guard – A fabric cover that wraps around your hoop or frame to keep the exposed fabric clean while you stitch. Also called a frame cover.
H
HAED – Heaven And Earth Designs. A pattern company known for extremely large, detailed, full coverage designs. Often used as shorthand for any massive, ambitious pattern.
Half stitch – One diagonal stitch (/ or \), which is half of a full cross stitch. Used for shading, backgrounds, and creating a lighter, more transparent effect.
Hoop – See Embroidery hoop.
I
Isolation level – In pattern software like Knytstudio, a setting in the confetti removal tool that determines how “lonely” a stitch needs to be (how few matching neighbors it has) before it’s flagged as confetti and replaced.
J
Jobelan – A popular brand of evenweave fabric. Softer than Aida with a slight sheen. Available in many counts and colors.
JP Coats – A brand of embroidery floss. Knytstudio supports JP Coats thread colors.
K
Kit – A prepackaged cross stitch project that includes the pattern, fabric, thread, needle, and instructions. Everything you need in one box. Great for beginners or gift-giving.
L
Linen – A natural fabric made from flax fibers. More textured and “rustic” looking than Aida, with slight irregularities in the weave. Stitched over two threads. Many experienced stitchers swear by it.
LNS – Local Needlework Store. An increasingly rare and precious thing. Support yours if you have one.
Loop start – A technique for securing your thread without a knot. You fold one strand of thread in half, thread the folded end through the needle, start your first half stitch, and catch the loop on the back with the needle. Clean, flat, and knotless. Only works with an even number of strands.
Lugana – A popular evenweave fabric brand. Softer than Aida, commonly available in 25 and 28 count.
M
Marking/Markup R-XP – A free cross stitch pattern software for Windows. Popular before digital alternatives like Pattern Keeper came along.
Maxi – A brand of embroidery floss. Knytstudio supports Maxi thread colors.
MCBAP – Massively Complicated Big Ass Project. When a BAP isn’t dramatic enough.
Metallic thread – Shiny thread used for sparkle and highlights. Beautiful in the finished piece but notoriously annoying to work with. Tangles, frays, and shreds easily. Use short lengths and a needle with a larger eye.
MSAL – Mystery Stitch-A-Long. A SAL where the full pattern isn’t revealed upfront. Sections are released over time, so you don’t know what the finished piece will look like until it’s done.
Mystery fibers – Unidentified strands that somehow end up stitched into your project. A pet hair, a clothing fiber, or something from another dimension. It happens to everyone.
N
Needle minder – A small decorative magnet (two magnets sandwiching the fabric) that holds your needle when you’re not using it. Prevents losing needles in the sofa. Highly collectible and there’s a whole market for cute ones.
Needlepoint – A related craft that uses yarn on a mesh canvas and typically covers the entire surface with half stitches. Often confused with cross stitch but they’re different techniques.
O
One over one (1 over 1) – Stitching where each cross covers one thread of the fabric. Creates very small, detailed stitches. Used on high-count fabrics for maximum detail.
Overdyed thread – Thread that has been dyed in multiple colors so the shade varies along the length. Creates a natural, organic color variation without changing threads.
P
Palette – The set of thread colors used in a pattern. In Knytstudio, you can view and edit your palette in the editor, adding or removing colors as needed.
Parking – An advanced stitching method where instead of finishing off a thread when you’re done with it in one area, you “park” the needle by bringing it up where you’ll need that color next. Results in lots of threaded needles hanging off the fabric, but saves time on starting and stopping threads. Efficient for confetti-heavy sections.
Pattern – See Chart.
Pattern Keeper – A popular app for Android (and now iOS) that displays your cross stitch pattern digitally and lets you mark off stitches as you go. Replaces printed paper patterns.
Pattern mill – A shop (usually on Etsy or Amazon) that mass-produces low-quality cross stitch patterns by running photos through automated conversion software with no cleanup. The results tend to have excessive confetti, wrong colors, and unrealistic stitch counts. Not the same as using a proper pattern design tool and taking the time to clean up the result.
PDF pattern – A cross stitch pattern distributed as a PDF file, typically including a color chart, symbol chart, and thread list. The standard format for digital pattern sales and distribution.
Perforated paper – Stiff paper punched with holes in a grid, used as an alternative to fabric. Usually 14-count. Popular for ornaments, bookmarks, and cards since it holds its shape.
Petite stitch – A very small cross stitch covering one quarter of a normal grid square. Four petite stitches fit in the space of one regular stitch. Used for very fine detail.
Pixel – In the context of cross stitch pattern design, one pixel in a digital image corresponds to one stitch. When converting a photo to a pattern, you’re essentially turning the image into pixel art.
Q
Q-snap – A rectangular frame made from PVC tubes and clamps. Lighter than wooden frames and easy to adjust. Popular for medium to large projects.
Quarter stitch – A small stitch covering one quarter of a grid square. The needle goes from a corner to the center of the square. Used for fine detail and smooth curves.
R
Railroading – A technique where you slip your needle between the two strands of floss before pulling through, so the strands lie flat and parallel on the fabric instead of twisting around each other. Creates neater, smoother stitches.
S
SAL – Stitch-A-Long. A group event where stitchers work on the same pattern (or theme) together over a set period. Can be in person or online.
Scroll frame – A frame with rotating bars at the top and bottom, allowing you to scroll through a large piece of fabric without rehooping.
Seam ripper – A small tool with a sharp blade used to cut and remove stitches when frogging. Faster than picking stitches out with a needle.
Skein – The standard unit of embroidery floss as sold. A DMC skein is 8 meters of six-strand thread. Typically costs well under a dollar.
Stamped cross stitch – A method where the pattern is printed directly onto the fabric in washable ink, so you stitch over the printed design. The marks wash out when you’re done. Simpler than counted cross stitch.
Stash – Your collection of cross stitch supplies, especially fabric and thread. The size of a stitcher’s stash is a source of both pride and mild guilt.
Stitch count – The total number of stitches in a pattern, or the dimensions measured in stitches (for example, “100 x 150 stitches”). Used to calculate finished size based on fabric count.
Stitchy buddy – Any pet that sits with you (or on you) while you stitch. Cats are the most common stitchy buddies and also the most likely to eat your thread.
Stranded cotton – See Embroidery floss.
Sullivans – A brand of embroidery floss. Knytstudio supports Sullivans thread colors.
Symbol chart – A version of the pattern where each thread color is represented by a unique symbol (squares, triangles, dots, letters) instead of color. Essential when you have many similar shades that are hard to tell apart on a color chart.
T
Tapestry needle – A blunt-tipped needle with a large eye, designed for cross stitch. The blunt tip slides between fabric threads without splitting them. Size 24 for 14-count Aida, size 26 for 18-count and finer.
Thread – See Embroidery floss.
Thread conditioner – A product (like Thread Heaven or beeswax) applied to thread to reduce tangling, fraying, and static. Especially useful with metallic threads.
Three-quarter stitch – A fractional stitch combining a quarter stitch and a half stitch. Covers three quarters of a grid square. Used for smoother curves and diagonal edges.
Tweeding – See Blending.
Two over two (2 over 2) – See Over two.
V
Variegated thread – Thread that gradually changes color along its length. Creates a shaded or ombre effect in the stitching without changing threads.
W
Waste canvas – A temporary gridded canvas that you baste onto regular fabric (like a t-shirt, tote bag, or jeans), stitch your design through, then carefully remove thread by thread. Lets you cross stitch onto almost anything.
Waste knot – A method of starting a new thread by knotting the end and inserting it from the front of the fabric a few inches away from where you’ll stitch. Your stitches cover the thread on the back as you work toward the knot, and you snip the knot off when you reach it.
Water-soluble pen – A marking pen used for gridding and marking fabric. The marks disappear when rinsed with water. Always test on a scrap first.
WIP – Work In Progress. A project you’re currently stitching. Most cross stitchers have several WIPs going at once, which is completely normal and not at all a problem.
Fabric Count Quick Reference
| Count | Stitches per inch | Best for | Finished size of 100x100 stitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 11 | Beginners, kids | 23 x 23 cm (9 x 9 in) |
| 14 | 14 | Most popular, general use | 18 x 18 cm (7 x 7 in) |
| 16 | 16 | Slightly more detail | 16 x 16 cm (6.3 x 6.3 in) |
| 18 | 18 | Fine detail | 14 x 14 cm (5.6 x 5.6 in) |
| 22 | 22 | Very fine work | 11.5 x 11.5 cm (4.5 x 4.5 in) |
| 28 | 14 (over two) | Evenweave/linen | 18 x 18 cm (7 x 7 in) |
Thread Brand Quick Reference
| Brand | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DMC | France | The most widely used. Hundreds of colors. The industry standard. |
| Anchor | UK/Germany | Second most popular. Different numbering system from DMC. |
| Sullivans | Australia | Good quality, growing in popularity. |
| JP Coats | USA | Widely available in North America. |
| Maxi | Turkey | Popular in Europe and the Middle East. |
All five brands are supported in Knytstudio for pattern creation and color matching.
Ready to start designing? Create a cross stitch pattern for free, or learn how to turn any photo into a pattern. Need help figuring out fabric size? Try the fabric size calculator.
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