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A Brief History of Cross Stitch Embroidery showing some of the most popular stitches today. 
The first stitches were used to join animal skins together to make body coverings. Embroidery, the decoration of fabric with stitches, probably began as a practical way of strengthening and repairing woven fabric by darning in extra threads, then developed gradually into the decorative process we know today. Cross stitch is one of the earliest embroidery stitches known to man and beautiful examples of the stitch can be found throughout the world from Europe to the Americas. During the first half of the last century, hand embroidery was a popular leisure pastime for many women and this hobby occupied many hours of spare time in the days before television. Various types of embroidery were worked on, including cutwork, crewel embroidery and needlepoint, but one of the most popular techniques, particularly during the nineteen twenties, thirties and forties, was cross stitch. Many of these designs, especially those for table linen and other home furnishings, were worked on the fabric by following a ready-printed design rather than by the counted thread and chart method which is more usual today. The items were often purchased in kit form from magazines, catalogues and draper’s shops and were described as ‘traced and ready-to-work’. The kits consisted of plain-weave linen or cotton fabric with a transfer-printed design and sufficient threads to complete the item. Table linen kits were especially sought after as the various sizes of cloth and the napkins were available ready-made with pre-finished edges which were sometimes trimmed with a border of machine-made lace. Embroidered table linen formed the basis of an unmarried girl’s trousseau, ‘bottom drawer’ or ‘hope chest’, together with bedlinen, flatware, glass and china. Transfers for cross stitch and other techniques could also be purchased separately and they were often given away as free gifts with the leading women’s magazines of the day, together with colourway ideas for fabric and thread combinations. The design outlines were printed on the paper with a waxy ink which was usually dark blue, royal blue or turquoise in colour. The outlines were transferred to the fabric by pressing with a hot iron and transfers could, with a little care, be used more than once - although the second and third pressing would give fainter outlines. After the embroidery was finished, the item was washed to remove all traces of the ink from the fabric. Some Common Stitches 
Back stitch is one of the most versatile needlepoint stitches and is especially useful for pictorial work. It usually outlines detail or emphasises part of a design It can be worked vertically, hoizontally or diagonally. Stitches should not be too long. 
Tramming is a technique which can be used to give a raised appearance to the stitching without the tramming threads being visible. It is commonly used on duo canvas to define the design accurately using tramming threads which are then overstitched to produce the finished work. Trammed canvases are easy to work since they are more accurate than printed canvases and they are also hard wearing. 
Gobelin is a versatile stitch that covers the canvas well. It works equally well on small areas or large background area although it is advisable to avoid long stitches which might look loose or untidy. It is important to use wool which is thick enough to cover the canvas underneath. 
Half Cross Stitch has the same appearance on the front as Continental Tent Stitch and basketweave but is worked differently. It is not particularly hard wearing. 
Basketweave stitch looks exactly the same on the front as Continental Tent stitch but is stitched in a different way. 
Florentine stitch is used the work known as Florentine embroidery but it is actually a needlepoint stitch.It is made up of straight stitches which step up and down to produce a zig-zag pattern. 
Continental Tent stitch is one of the most popular needlepoint stitches. It covers the canvas well and, being hardwearing, is very good for stools, chair seats, rugs etc.
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