Originally posted 2009-05-21 07:17:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
This week I got a question about converting cross stitch charts to needlepoint. This is an easy process if you are careful about the charts you pick. It can also be economical, allowing you to use charts from your stash and less expensive floss.
It’s also the method you use to stitch from the charts in needlepoint books, both old and new. Knowing this broadens your options for stitching more of these designs. This article will cover three topics: charts, thread, and stitching. Those interested in making charted needlepoint from books will find the last topic most helpful.
Charts
When you look for Cross Stitch charts, look for ones which have two things: whole stitch only and minimal backstitching. These will be the easiest to convert to needlepoint.
Because of the structure of needlepoint and canvas, you cannot make precise partial stitches on needlepoint canvas. Therefore by looking for charts which have no quarter, half or three-quarter stitches you will save yourself lots of trouble.
This means that the chart should look like the one above with symbols filling the entire square. Sometimes, but not always, the chart has partial stitches listed on the color key.
A chart with partial symbols looks like this. You can see how some of the squares are only partially filled. These would be made with partial Cross Stitches. These soften lines in Cross Stitch but aren’t done in needlepoint.
Another common feature in Cross Stitch charts is Backstitching. Often this is used to outline or to create details in the design. Backstitch is hard to do in needlepoint. You don’t need it to outline in most cases, so that kind of backstitching can be ignored.
If backstitching provides details, as is the case with this gingerbread house, you stitch the backstitching over the Tent Stitch base. This way you preserve the fine details of this kind of backstitching.
Thread
Cross Stitch uses considerably thinner thread than needlepoint. If you think about it, this makes sense. In Cross Stitch. you are embellishing a fabric. In needlepoint, you are making a fabric. A Cross Stitch has two layers in it. A Tent Stitch has only one.
If your chart has strand recommendations, don’t use them, you’ll need to follow this table for number of strands of silk or floss:
- 12 mesh: 8 strands
- 14 mesh: 6 strands
- 18 mesh: 4 strands
- 24 mesh (Congress Cloth): 2-3 strands
Remember always to strip, ply, and recombine your threads before using them.
Stitching
In needlepoint canvas (pictured above) the threads are bigger than the holes and stitches are made from hole to hole over intersections or threads.
In Cross Stitch fabric (pictured above) the threads are bigger than the holes and you stitch over the threads from hole to hole. When I did Cross Stitch, I always thought of the fabric as a huge piece of graph paper and my stitches as coloring those holes.
And Cross Stitch charts and similar charts for needlepoint all use this convention. Each square on the graph represents a stitch.
A stitch is a stitch and still goes over one thread. It’s just that the threads are thinner and the holes bigger in needlepoint.
When you stitch needlepoint from a chart, make each graphed square a Tent Stitch, going over one intersection of thread.
This needlepoint was stitched from a vintage needlepoint chart in my files. The chart could have been done in either needlepoint or cross stitch.
Once you are comfortable with stitching from charts, you’ll find a whole new world of great designs out there waiting for you!
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Thank You so much for replying to my question. You taught me so much about this subject. I am so glad I found your site. I visit it every day.
Happy Memorial Day to you.
[...] I’ve heard from many blogs and readers that cross-stitch charts can be used equally well for needlepoint. I’m glad I didn’t try the conversion yet. We all need the essential information that Janet Perry of Nuts About Needlepoint is sharing about determining whether a cross-stitch chart will convert well. See what she has to say. [...]
I need someone to explain how to convert a needlepoint chart to a counted cross stitch chart. No one can answer this question for me so I hope you can.
Converting Needlepoint to Cross Stitch not Cross Stitch to Needlepoint. Please help.
Sandy Hodges
Watauga, TX
sandrahodges1943@aol.com
It’s more or less the opposite of this. In most charts the symbols will be in squares. One square on the chart represents one “square” of Aida fabric. Because of the weave of this fabric there are squares of thread with small holes in each corner.
The cross stitch should be made from corner to corner, filling the square, according to the color for the symbol on the key.
HTH!
Keep Stitching,
Janet
[...] blog plost about adapting cross stitch charts to needlepoint has more [...]
[...] work with cross-stitch, too? I think it would. In fact, it might even be adaptable to needlepoint. Check Janet Perry’s guidelines for adapting cross-stitch patterns to needlepoint and see what you think. In the meantime, go to the Craftzine post to download the [...]
The only problem I have with conversion, is how much thread to buy. How can you tell how much? Isn’t there a conversion for how many stitches certain length of thread covers?
The convention for Cross Stitch is that it’s ones skein per color unless noted.
To do a ball park conversion, you need to know the number of strands for both.
On 18 mesh needlepoint uses 4 strands of floss, on 14 mesh 6 strands.
On 14 count cloth, Cross Stitch uses 3 strands and 18 2.
So if you were going from 18 count cloth to 18 mesh canvas, I’d figure on double the amount.
Now the only problem is that often you don’t know how much of a skein is used. You’ll have to eyeball it. Colors where there is lots and lots I’d probably add one skein or two if the chart calls for more than one skein.
I don’t have a rules of thumb for doing this as the guidelines I’ve seen aren’t reliable enough for me to recommend them.
HTH