Ann Logan

First and foremost, always make sure to have clean hands when stitching. Oils from your skin transfer easily to cross stitch fabric and over time create stains that are not easy to remove. The best way to avoid this is to avoid the problem in the first place. Train your family not to touch your projects unless they have freshly cleaned hands. Better yet, tell them to keep off the fabric and floss!

Everyone has trouble seeing stitches when she/he stitches white on white. The trick is to put a piece of black material behind the canvas. This will provide contrast between canvas and the white thread.