How To Make A Cross Stitch Rug

You'll need ten 30-yard skeins of heavy weight yarn (5 light and 5 dark), a needlepoint needle with a large eye, and a 22 x 30 inch piece of cross stitch rug canvas with 3 to 3 1/2 squares per inch. Coarse monks' cloth or burlap might also be used. The completed rug will measure 20 x 28 inches.

Follow the chart below and begin in the upper right hand corner, leaving a one inch margin at the top and the side of the rug. Work from right to left, using a single strand of yard. Use the needlepoint needle to make the cross stitches shown in the sketch above. Make 15 slanting stitches all in the same direction, then reverse and make slanting stitches in the opposite direction to complete the crosses. Keep the cross stitches uniform, always crossing in the same direction, and making sure not to pull the yarn too tight.

When changing colors or ending a strand, leave a three inch end and slip this through the back side of the last few stitches to secure. To start a new
strand, slip the end of the yarn through the last few stitches and proceed.

Your initials or a simple monogram can be added to the lower right corner once the design is finished. When the rug is completed, turn the one inch margins under and baste to the wrong side of the rug with matching yard.

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