Single Cross Stitch Tutorial: Add Texture and Style to Your Crochet

Ready to try a unique crochet stitch that adds beautiful texture to your work? Let me walk you through the single cross stitch!

I love how this stitch forms little Xs across the fabric—it looks neat and special. Whether you're new to crochet or just want to learn something new, this guide is perfect for you. Let's get started together!

Materials You'll Need

Before we begin, let me show you what you need. It's always helpful to start with the right tools!

To crochet the  single cross stitch, I use:

• One ball of yarn (any color or texture you like)
• A crochet hook that matches the yarn size

Check your yarn label—it usually tells you what hook size to use. I find that matching the hook with the yarn helps my stitches look more even.

Step 1: Creating the Foundation Chain

Let's start by building the base of our project. This part is fun and easy!

Making the Chain

Begin with a slip knot on your hook. Then, crochet a chain of 30 stitches. Keep your tension steady, not too tight, and not too loose. You want the stitches to be easy to work into later.

Joining into a Ring

After finishing your 30 chains, it's time to turn it into a ring.

Hold your yarn like this (you can adjust it based on your comfort). 

Now, take your hook and slip stitch into the very first chain. 

Insert the hook, yarn over, and pull through both loops. 

Yay! We've now created a ring, and we're ready to crochet in the round.

Step 2: Setting Up for the First Round

Now, we need to set the height before we begin the main stitches. Let me explain how.

Chain One for Height

Just chain one. This gives our round a bit of height, which helps the stitches line up properly.

Difference Between V Single and Single Cross Stitch

Now, here's something important. Usually, with the V single stitch, I apply steps:

• Insert the hook into the stitch

• Yarn over

• Pull the yarn through

• Pull the yarn up

That's the standard way.

But for the single cross stitch, we do it a little differently. This part is key!

• You insert your hook into the stitch like usual. 

• But then you turn the hook so it comes up over the yarn strand. 

• Then, pull the yarn through the stitch. 

• From here, you yarn under and pull through both loops, just like in a regular single crochet. 

But that twist at the beginning makes all the difference!

Step 3: Working the First Round of Single Cross Stitches

This is where the fun begins! We're now crocheting our first round of cross stitches.

How to Crochet the Cross Stitch

Let me walk you through it slowly.

• Insert your hook into the next stitch

• Turn the hook so that it goes over the yarn

• Pull up a loop through the stitch

• Yarn over

• Pull through both loops on your hook

That's your first single cross stitch! Keep doing this all the way around.

Visual Cues in the First Round

In this first round, the X shape might be hard to see. Don't worry! It becomes clearer in the next round. Just follow the motion carefully and keep your stitches even. I promise—it gets easier with each round.

Step 4: Finishing Round One and Moving to Round Two

Once we reach the end of round one, we'll finish it up and get ready for the second round.

Completing the Round

At the end of your round, slip the stitch into the first stitch to close the circle. Insert the hook, yarn over, and pull through both loops.

Look closely—you'll now begin to see the X shapes forming! Isn't that exciting?

Starting Round Two

Let's keep going! Start round two by chaining one again. This gives us height, just like before. 

Then, insert the hook into the base of the chain. 

Yarn under. Pull up the yarn. 

Then, yarn over, and pull through both loops. 

That's your first cross stitch of round two.

Step 5: Pro Tip for a More Defined Cross Stitch

Here's a little trick I learned that makes the cross stand out!

Lifting the Yarn

Don't pull too tightly after inserting your hook and pulling up the yarn. Instead, lift the yarn up high. I mean, lift it!

If you just pull a little and go straight through, the X shape won't pop out. So:

• Insert your hook

• Pull up the yarn

• Lift the loop high
• Then yarn over and pull through both loops

This extra lift makes each stitch look sharper and more defined. You'll love the result!

Step 6: Recognizing the Single Cross Stitch

Let's talk more about how this stitch looks and what makes it different.

What Makes the Cross Stitch Unique

If you look at the surface of your work now, you'll see that each stitch forms an X. There are two strands crossing over each other at the center—that's the magic of this stitch!

Hook Positioning: Over vs. Under

To make this happen, remember this key detail: insert the hook and go over the yarn, not under. That's the main difference between the X and V stitches.

In the V single stitch:

• The yarn goes over the hook

In the single cross stitch:

• Yarn goes under the hook

That one change makes all the difference! Keep repeating the stitch with this technique, and your X shapes will keep showing up perfectly.

Closing Words

Now you know how to crochet the single cross stitch from start to finish. This stitch adds a lovely twist to your fabric and works beautifully for things like hats, bags, or wristbands.

Try a few rounds and let your hands get used to the motion. Let me know how it goes, and feel free to share your X-stitch projects with me!