Choose the right image It’s important to choose the best quality photograph which is full of detail. An atmospheric image of dawn mist over the meadows may look good as a photograph but would lack impact when stitched. Photographs that are clear with a good range of colours will produce the best cross stitch pictures. Also the shape of the photograph will determine the shape of the final finished cross stitch. Fabric count, number of threads and finished size The higher the fabric count the more detail there will be in the finished cross stitch of a given size but it will also take longer and will be more difficult to complete. It’s the same when choosing the number of colours to use, the more colours used, the more photo realistic the finished cross stitch will be. There are over 400 colours of DMC thread range, you could decide to use all 400 colours but that could mean that every stitch on the design would be a different colour (thread) from it’s neighbours making it a nightmare to complete. As for size, the larger the finished piece the more stitches there will be and the longer it will take to complete. See our example page to see the effect of changing fabric count, number of coloured threads used and finished size. Ask for a preview of your design If you are a little confused by now, why not ask for a preview of your design? You can choose from a range of thread counts, numbers of coloured threads and final cross stitch size. We will send you by return email a link to a web page which shows pictorial representations of what your finished cross stitch may look like. There is a small charge for this service but you will be given a voucher to the same value which can be used should you decide to proceed with an order using the same image.