Cross Stitch vs Embroidery – What’s the Difference Between Them?

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There’s lots of things you can do with a needle and thread. From sewing up clothes to creating a piece of artwork, what you do is up to you. But two of the classic ways to make something keepable is to either cross stitch or embroidery a design.

But what’s the difference between them? Let’s take a look a the question of cross stitch vs embroidery and help you choose which one you want to learn first.

Types of embroidery

Technically, you could say that cross stitch is a type of embroidery but for the sake of this conversation, let’s keep it separate. There are two main types of embroidery that you can learn – hand embroidery and machine embroidery.

What is machine embroidery?

Machine embroidery is the newer of the two and uses a specialist embroidery machine to do the sewing for you. These machines operate with computer software much in the way something like a Cricut does. You install the pattern, sometimes you can edit things then you send it to the machine.

For most crafters, machine embroidery isn’t something they will do. It tends to be used by companies who create large numbers of the same product such as school uniforms, logos on work clothes or banners. You can have a home-based business doing this kind of thing if you have the space to house the machine.

What is hand embroidery?

Hand embroidery is an ancient craft that we have used to decorate our clothes and homes for centuries. As opposed to machine embroidery, everything is done by hand although you can buy printed patterns or transfer them onto the cloth.

You can use hand embroidery for all kinds of things. From adding a motif to a t-shirt to creating a greeting card or a picture, there are plenty of different ways to use the technique once you learn it. There are different stitches and fabric that is used depending on what you are creating.

What is cross stitch?

As I said, technically cross stitch is a form of embroidery because you use needle and thread and fabric to create something. The big difference is that the vast majority of stitches are in the form of an X and you build these up to create the design. There are things like half and quarter cross stitches, backstitch and more.

With cross stitch, you can draw or print the design but most people will work from a cross stitching chart. This is known as counted cross stitch and will usually use colours and/or symbols to show you what to stitch where. Stamped cross stitch is where you find the design imprinted into the fabric and you simply stitch over the top.

What other types of embroidery are there?

While we are talking about types of embroidery, now’s a good time to mention a few other varieties that you might run into. We aren’t looking at these in detail here but just a nod to what they are. A few of the most popular include:

• Needlepoint – this uses squares on fabric to create designs with a range of stitches and uses stiff and heavy fabric to create a woven look
• Crewel embroidery – this uses wool and woven fabric to create designs and uses the variety of stitches as hand embroidery
• Pulled thread embroidery – this is where the thread is pulled tight to create a hole in the fabric and a pattern around the hole to create a unique look
• Cutwork embroidery – this style uses cut out fabric shapes with sewing around them

Cross stitch vs embroidery

So now we understand what the main difference in these kinds of embroidery are, it is time to look at the two head to head and see what the differences are and how you can pick the one that you want to start with.

Here’s a few basics at a glance:

Supplies	Cross Stitch	Embroidery
Thread	Embroidery floss (examples DMC, Anchor)	Embroidery floss (examples DMC, Anchor)
Fabric	Evenweave fabric such as Aida or linen	Almost any type of fabric that a needle passes through
Basic stitch	X stitch, back stitch, French knot	Long stitch (blanket stitch), back stitch, French knot, lazy daisy

What do you want to make?

Another way to compare the two is to think about the kind of projects you can make with them.

For example, if you want to add an embellishment to a piece of clothing, then both will work. However, with cross stitch projects, you will be able to see the colour of the fabric under it. So if the shirt is a dark or strong colour, this can impact the result. With embroidery, you can’t see anything under so you can add it to black or other dark shades.

If you want to make a greeting card, then you can use embroidery but patterns tend to be a little larger for most cards. However, cross stitch patterns can be as small as motifs that are 20 x 20 stitches wide so can work on any size card.

If creating artwork or a keepsake, you can use either. Both are available in large designs although the bigger counted cross stitch designs can be a little hard to keep track of where you are at. Stamped or printed cross stitch can be better for larger pictures.

What you need to start

To start a project with either of these types of embroidery, you need roughly the same supplies. The basics will include:

• Pattern, chart, stamped or printed fabric and details of what cottons you need
• Cottons in the colours shown in the pattern
• Needle (this can be blunt tapestry needles or sharp needles depending on your preference)
• Fabric in the correct type for the project
• Sharp scissors to cut fabric and the cottons
• A storage box or bag to keep everything in (not essential but if you have kids or pets like me, then cottons have a habit of vanishing)

You may want to have a couple of optional extras. Especially for embroidery, a wooden hoop is a good way to keep the fabric taut and make it easier to stitch. Personally, I don’t use it for cross stitch but I know lots of people who do.

The other thing is something to organise cottons. Cottons come in something called skeins, a number of threads (usually 6) wrapped around themselves with no central reel like sewing cotton. Once you take off the wrapper, it will start to unravel.

Something to hold the cotton is a good idea. We use plastic bobbins that you wind the cotton onto. You can also get neat little cotton storage boxes to hold these. Other ideas include card or plastic thread holders with holes.

Embroidery vs cross stitch – what’s the easiest?

There’s no right or wrong answer to the question of which of these is the easiest. I started with embroidery and went to cross stitch later then became hooked. However, I would say that cross stitch can be easier, especially if you use stamped cross stitch where you don’t have to count the number of stitches all of the time.

Hand embroidery looks more complicated and there are often more stitches to learn. But the basic principles are similar and it can be quicker as each stitch is usually a single thing, not a double one like cross stitch.

My suggestion? Buy a small kit of each and give them a try! See what you like. Or go by the type of project you want for the finished product and what works best for that.