Trying Two Handed Cross-Stitching

I started cross-stitching for the first time at about 8 years old, because I saw my mom doing it.

My mom used to do amazing cross-stitches, from a beautiful yellow rose that I still have hanging in my bedroom, to a realistic deer, or a classic Alabama "A."

I remember she gave me a scrap piece of Aida cloth, showed me how to thread the needle and tie the knot, and said "knock yourself out." If I remember correctly, I tried to make a Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, & Bulbasaur. I do not remember how far I got, though!

After growing into an adult, being surrounded by embroidery at work, and still being into video games (and pixel art especially), I really wanted to try to pick up cross-stitching again.

On our first Christmas together, my husband bought me a cross-stitch kit themed after one of my favorite video games, Stardew Valley.

Image Via FanGamer https://www.fangamer.com/products/stardew-valley-cross-stitch

It immediately came flooding back and I cross-stitched a little Junimo (apple-like spirit).

Three years later, cross-stitching and hand embroidery are my favorite hobbies to do, especially when watching TV or listening to music.

Here are a few of my recently completed stitch projects:

I bought an app (which I will review in another blog post!) that lets me create my own stitch patterns, and I have created several and listed them for sale on my Etsy store!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ASofterElement

I really enjoy creating patterns and have been trying to create them in areas that aren't oversaturated, like Twin Peaks and Arkham Horror/H.P. Lovecraft.

I now have a backlog of TONS of cross-stitch patterns, both my own and ones I have purchased, simply because cross-stitching takes so much time. That and, I realized, I make really big patterns. Oops.

When working on my newest stitching, I asked Reddit for advice on how to stitch faster. I'll be honest, most of it wasn't very useful. I got the typical "it just takes time!" or "you'll get faster when you learn it better." I've been doing this for 3 years. I'm no expert, but I know what I'm doing.

A suggestion that stuck out to me though: Two-Handed Stitching.

Now, I learned this works best with a stand, which is great to have if you are sitting at a desk working on your stitching, but when you're balled up in the crevice of your couch, not so much.

Two-Handed Stitching is pretty self explanatory. Instead of holding the hoop with one hand and stitching with the other (and constantly having to move your stitching hand back and forth from the front of the hoop to the back), you use both hands to stitch.

I balance my hoop in my lap, with one hand under it and one above it. You bring your stitch up through the back as normal using your right (or dominant) hand, but instead of using the same hand to bring it back, you use your left (or non-dominant) hand to send it back down. This can be a bit tough, especially when your floss is really long, but once you get the hang of it, you can go SO much faster.

I do all my back stitches first, and then go back and finish the "X" after I have laid out all (or most) of that color. Two-Handed Stitching makes it go so much faster when completing all those "X's!"

Have you ever tried Two-Handed Stitching? Do you have any quick stitching tips?

Let me know!