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How to Knit the Indian Cross Stitch

January 11, 2017 6 Comments

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch is a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. Click through for an easy to follow video tutorial.

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting, and it’s a stitch you don’t come across all that often. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch provides a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. There are so many different ways to knit the Indian Cross Stitch since it can be worked at a variety of lengths and over different stitch counts too. This video walks you through the tricky part – how exactly to elongate your stitches and cross them over without twists or tangles. Once you wrap your brain around this stitch you can incorporate it into your knitting in so many ways!

If you’re doing the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along (or even reading this after the MKAL for reference), variations on this stitch are featured in the second section of the Exquisite Mystery pattern.

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch is a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. Click through for an easy to follow video tutorial.

These instructions demonstrate how to work the Indian Cross Stitch as defined in Barbara Walker’s first Treasury of Knitting Patterns, but the stitch length and count may be adapted to a variety of lengths or stitch counts.

The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch is a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. Click through for an easy to follow video tutorial.

Yarn support for the Exquisite Mystery design was provided by Dream in Color yarn. To learn more about the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along, check out this overview post, the Exquisite Mystery KAL Ravelry Thread, and order the pattern here.

Filed Under: Knit Along, Knitting Tagged With: exquisite mystery knit along, exquisitemkal, indian cross, indian cross stitch, kal, knit along, knitting tutorial, mkal, video tutorial

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Bennie-Ruth Dean

    January 14, 2017 at 2:35 pm

    I really like this stitch. Have you used this pattern in a blanket or maybe a sweater? -positioned verically or horizontally? I guess I am wondering how weight would affect the stitch. Is it possible for me to store all of your stitch videos together? They are do very helpful.
    Thanks so much
    B-R

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 19, 2017 at 10:15 am

      Hi B-R!

      This pattern uses the stitch on a really small scale in a shawl for a textural effect. As far as fit, I’ll point you toward this pullover and this cardigan. I haven’t found a lot of patterns using indian cross stitch if they’re looking for a closely fitted garment, but it makes a statement and is a nice alternative to lace! If you’re looking to lighten up the stitch, you could do fewer garter repeats between crosses, and make your crosses shorter as well.

      I’m so glad to hear you like the videos! To organize them, I recommend using YouTube’s playlist feature, creating a list of bookmarks in your web browser, or using Pinterest. Here are some tutorials to help teach you how to do the YouTube and Pinterest ideas:
      -https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57792?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
      -http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/how-to-use-pinterest

      Let me know if you have any questions or other ideas for this stitch!
      Heidi

      Reply
  2. Mary

    January 14, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    Love your videos, clear, succint and no unecessary extras(i.e.showing how to wrap the sts 8xs). You have the best presentations!!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 14, 2017 at 4:16 pm

      Thanks so much, Mary! That makes my day. :)

      Reply
  3. Kathleen Brosemer

    January 21, 2023 at 3:24 pm

    Why is it called Indian cross stitch? Is it referring to India, or the indigenous peoples of the Americas? I can’t find that anywhere. Hoping someone here would know. I’m using it in a lovely shawl by Melanie Berg and am going to get questions when I wear it!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      January 24, 2023 at 10:51 am

      I don’t know, but I found this stitch in Barbara Walker’s first Treasury of Knitting Patterns, under the name “Indian Cross Stitch.” Hopefully that will help – I’d love to hear what your research turns up. :)

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #wip #knitting
Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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#handsoccupied #learntoknit #continentalknitting #howtoknit #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #knit #knitting #knitter #knittersofinstagram #knittinghack  #handknitting #handknit #norwegianpurling
Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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