Difference Between Cross Stitch and Embroidery

The key difference between cross stitch and embroidery is that embroidery generally refers to decorating fabric by stitching designs onto it whereas cross stitch is a form of embroidery that specifically uses stitches that have an X shape.

In general, embroidery is a broad term that refers to the art of decorating fabrics using needle and thread. There are various forms of embroidery and cross stitch is just one of them. While cross stitching requires a special type of fabric, i.e., woven fabric, embroidery can be done on many types of fabrics.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cross Stitch
3. What is Embroidery
4. Relationship Between Cross Stitch and Embroidery
5. Side by Side Comparison – Cross Stitch vs Embroidery in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Embroidery?

Embroidery is a broad term that encompasses various fabric crafts. It is basically the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle and thread. Moreover, embroidery may also include other items such as yarn, beads, pearls, quills, and sequins.

Some of the basic stitches or techniques in embroidery include chain stitch, blanket stitch, cross stitch, running stitch and satin stitch. There are two main types of embroidery as machine embroidery and hand embroidery. As their names imply, machine embroidery involves using a sewing machine or embroidery machine to create patterns on fabrics whereas hand embroidery involves using needle and thread to create designs on fabric by hand.

Although machine embroidery is more convenient and time-saving than hand embroidery, hand embroidery allows more creativity and techniques. Moreover, hand-embroidered designs are unique and reflect the talent and unique style of the person who creates it.

There are many other types of embroidery. Some of them are as follows:

Free embroidery – done without taking the weave of the fabric into account

Counted thread embroidery – uses patterns that are measured by the number of threads in the fabric

Surface embroidery – done on top of the fabric

Canvas work – requires stitching over the entire fabric, making a new fabric.

What is Cross Stitch?

Cross stitch is a type of counted thread embroidery which uses X-shaped stitches to create a design or pattern. In stamped cross stitch, the embroiderer can print a pattern on the fabric and use it as a guide to creating the final design. However, in counted cross stitch, the embroiderer has to count stitches out from the centre of the fabric to ensure an even final design.

Moreover, you can use fabrics like Aida, Jobelan, Lugana, even weave and waste canvas for cross stitching. In general, the fabrics we use for embroidery should have an even number of threads both vertically and horizontally. It is only then that stitches become even.

Today, most embroiderers use cross stitching to create decorative items like wall hangers, cushions, coasters, and, bookmarks.

What is the Relationship Between Cross Stitch and Embroidery?

• Cross stitch is a type of embroidery methods.

What is the Difference Between Cross Stitch and Embroidery?

Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle and thread whereas cross stitch is a type of counted thread embroidery which uses X-shaped stitches to create a design or pattern. Therefore, this is the key difference between cross stitch and embroidery. Furthermore, cross stitch mainly uses stitches that have an X shape whereas there are various types of stitches such as chain stitch, blanket stitch, running stitch and cross stitch in embroidery. There is also a difference between cross stitch and embroidery based on the type of fabric used. Cross Stitch is typically done on woven fabric while we can do embroidery on many types of fabrics.

Summary – Cross Stitch vs Embroidery

The key difference between cross stitch and embroidery is that embroidery generally refers to decorating fabric by stitching designs onto it whereas cross stitch is a form of embroidery that specifically uses stitches that have an X shape.

Reference:

1. “Cross-Stitch.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Nov. 2018. Available here
2. “Embroidery.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Nov. 2018. Available here  

Image Courtesy:

1.”3524900″ (CC0) via Max Pixel
2.”2448191″ by moritz320 (CC0) via pixabay
3.”1644363″ by AKuptsova (CC0) via pixabay
4.”Cross stitching pillow”By Ksenia Andreeva (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia