What is Cross Stitch?
Cross Stitch was my original title (it was a play on “a stitch in time”), and the Brits liked it. The Americans said “It sounds too much like embroidery, can you think of something more….adventurous?” so I did–Outlander. Also, when I wrote it, I had in mind that it was one book–and knew only enough about it to be pretty sure that Claire would “cross” not once, but twice– future to past, past to future–which would make an X, which is the basic embroidery cross stitch. It also had to do with Claire’s occupation–that of a healer. Lots of meanings, but overall, not really a good title, I don’t think.
Cross stitch, or counted cross stitch, is originally a stitch used in the embroidery of days gone by. The stitch is composed of two diagonal stitches, one crossed over the other.The most important thing to remember about cross stitch is to cross the “x” in the same direction. The second most important thing to remember about cross stitch is never, never knot your thread. Instead, run your needle behind your stitches when you come to the end of your thread or when you begin a new thread. In its early days of commercial sales, the individual “x’s” of cross stitch were stamped onto fabric. This was calledstamped cross stitch. This myriad of “x’s”created a picture or made a saying. There were also household items in stamped cross stitch, such as towels, quilts, and pillowcases. Kits with floss and a stitching diagram were sold and the stitcher stitched the “x” where indicated on the fabric. As time has passed, these kits have become more and more rare. Later, in the 70’s, counted cross sti
