Make a Cross-Stitch Painting

Cross-stitch may not be our craft of choice when we think hip, modern or even relevant interior design. but don't think that cross-stitch doesn’t have something to offer when it comes to home decor.

Transfer Pattern

Download our free deer silhouette cross-stitch template. Transfer the pattern onto a larger piece of painted wood or other backdrop, and allow to dry (image 1). Count how many squares (or ex-stitch) wide and tall the cross-stitch pattern is. Each cross-stitch square should be a 1/2-inch square on the painted backdrop. Depending on the size of your backdrop or cross-stitch pattern, figuring your grid to be 1-inch squares or 1/4-inch squares, use a tape measure to determine board's size (image 2).

Mark Borders

Using a tape measure, create pencil marks along all four borders of your wood backdrop at 1/2-inch spacing, or every 1/2-inch around the border.

Make the Grid

Using a straight-edge item, like a poster board, connect corresponding dashes (image 1). Connect the first dash on the top of the board to the first dash on the bottom of the board, creating lines running parallel to the left and right side of your board (image 2). After you have created grid lines all the way from top to bottom of the board, do the same horizontally across the board.

Start Your Cross-Stitch

Count over your cross-stitch pattern until you get to the first ex-stitch (image 1). Count over on your board, find the same corresponding square, and paint your first ex (image 2). This ex will serve as a reference point for all the other exes you will paint following the cross-stitch pattern.

Follow the Pattern

Follow the cross-stitch pattern, and paint in exes wherever there is an ex-stitch on the pattern. If the pattern is colored, use corresponding colored paints. To paint the small exes, use the end of a paintbrush.