Why does my cross-stitching have 'ridges'?

I have observed this before and it is caused by the way the stitches are formed. When you cross each stitch as you go along, working one row left to right and the next right to left, the stress of stitches is different in alternate rows, which is why the rows form paired ridges as described. This will really be noticeable when stitching a solid area in one color, where row upon row is worked in the same color. The interesting thing is that occasionally a person who stitches in this manner stitches two rows in the same direction so that the pattern gets broken.

Information from Cross Country Stitching Magazine columns "Ask Judie" - Judie Solomon, Thistle Needleworks & "Carol’s Crafty Corner" - Carol Rice, The Craft Menagerie

Return to FAQs page