Crossed stitches · Beginner
Star stitch
Star stitch is a diagonal cross with an upright cross worked on top of it, both inside the same small square. The four straight stitches cross at one center point and make an eight-pointed star. It is mostly used as a filling, with the stars repeated across a shape.
How to work it
Stitch from corner to corner
Draw a small square. Bring the needle up at A, the bottom right corner, and take it down at B, the top left corner.
Cross it with a second diagonal
Come up at C, the bottom left corner, and go down at D, the top right corner. The two stitches make a diagonal cross, like an ordinary cross stitch.
Stitch straight up the middle
Now work an upright cross on top. Come up at E, the middle of the bottom side, and go down at F, the middle of the top side.
Finish with a stitch across
Come up at G, the middle of the left side, and go down at H, the middle of the right side. This last stitch lies on top, and all four cross at the same point.
The finished star
Work the stitches of every star in the same order and direction, so the same stitch always lies on top. Repeat the star side by side in rows to fill a shape.
At a glance
- Also called
- double cross stitch
- Used for
- fillings made of repeated stars; powdered patterns of repeated stars; counted work on canvas and evenweave fabric
- Thread
- Three strands of six-strand floss are a good place to start. Use fewer strands for a finer star.
- Needle
- An embroidery (crewel) needle. Size 7 suits two to four strands of floss, and size 9 suits one or two.
Tips
- Draw a small square for each star, or two parallel lines for a row of stars. The corners and the middle of each side give you the eight points.
- Work the stitches of every star in the same order, so the same stitch always lies on top.
When it goes wrong
- The stitches do not cross at the same point
- Each stitch runs between opposite points of the square: corner to opposite corner, or the middle of one side to the middle of the opposite side. Mark all eight points before you begin.
- The stars do not match each other
- Follow the same order for every star: the two diagonals first, then the upright stitch, then the level stitch.
Left-handed
The stitch is the same. If it is more comfortable, mirror the diagrams and start the first diagonal at the bottom left corner. Keep to one order for every star.
Variations
- Smyrna cross stitch. The same stitch counted out on canvas or evenweave fabric. Each cross covers the same number of threads each way, such as four, with the diagonal cross first and the upright cross on top.
- Algerian eye stitch. A square stitch with eight stitches that radiate from one center hole. Each one is worked from the outside edge into the center.
Questions
- How do you embroider a simple star?
- For a small star, use star stitch. Work a diagonal cross, then an upright cross on top. The four stitches cross at one point and make eight rays.
- Is star stitch the same as double cross stitch?
- Yes. Both names describe a diagonal cross with an upright cross worked on top. The same stitch is also called Smyrna cross stitch and Leviathan stitch. Other stitches share the name star stitch too, including Algerian eye stitch.
- Which cross goes first in star stitch?
- The diagonal cross goes first, and the upright cross is placed on top of it. Keep to that order for every star so they all look the same.