Top Questions

Meredith has retired and is no longer selling patterns, but useful features of the website (and SQ Stitch) are still available.

Probably not.

There will continue to be email support during a transitional period. There will not be phone support.

Yes, 'Rosa centifolia Anglica rubra' by Pierre-Joseph Redoute (pattern code RED001) is available free to our subscribers.

When you subscribe to our free newsletter we'll send you an email with a link you can follow to download the free pattern.

No, it is only free if downloaded.

The chart is one of our standard charts, so it's exactly like our other patterns. The only part you don't get is the cover page, which has a color picture of the pattern, but you can print the picture from the web site.

No, our patterns are entirely done in full cross stitch, and there is no backstitching.

Our designs are charted for DMC floss, which seems to be the most widely available brand. There are conversion tables to other brands if you have a lot of something else on hand.

No, all designs use cotton DMC floss only, with no accessories.

Yes, blended colors are key to getting the subtle shading in our patterns. ALL of our patterns use blended colors.

Our patterns call for stitching with 2 strands of floss. Solid colors use 2 strands of the same color, and blended colors use 1 strand each of 2 different colors. This simulates an intermediate color. When using a blended color, it's important to keep the floss untwisted so both colors show.

No, they all have at least some blended colors.

Yes, since there are no partial stitches, but it would probably be too difficult to convert the colors to wool. We would recommend using 18-count canvas and stitching with 6 strands of DMC floss (3 strands of each color for blends).

Our patterns are mostly large but not difficult! If you have not used blended colors before you might want to practice a few stitches on a scrap before you get started.

Click here to find our patterns which are quick to stitch.

Patterns in which the background is not stitched are designed so that edge stitches shade into the fabric color, creating a smooth edge look. This means designing for a particular fabric color. If you used a different fabric color, the shading stitches would stick out instead of blending.

We highly recommend a magnifying light, such as the Dazor brand. This makes stitching so much easier. You can use anything you like to hold the fabric taut, but we recommend using a scroll frame, ideally on a floor stand. You can read more in the equipment section of our cross stitch tips page.

Full instructions are available at instructions. We have some tutorials on stitching basics and advanced techniques. We've tried to provide comprehensive cross stitch tips and instruction as well. Have a look there.

The print size of the large print patterns is about 50% larger than the regular print patterns (which are a standard size for cross stitch patterns). The charts themselves are exactly the same, except that, since the print is larger, the large print patterns require more pages to print. Print this page to see how the sizes compare.

Yes, you may, provided you destroy the copy when you are done stitched. You may not enlarge the chart, however, unless you have bought the large print version and it is still too small for you. (Large print patterns say "Large print" on the cover. Patterns without that label may not be enlarged.) If you need permission for a copy shop, print this page to show them.

We recommend at least 16-count fabric. 18-count is better, and up to about 25-count will work with 2 strands of floss.

High stitch count fabric means smaller stitches, which give better coverage of the fabric. This makes the illusion of a painting more real than obvious X's would. Also, it may be difficult to find a piece of fabric large enough to work some of our patterns at 12- or 14-count.

You can use any evenweave fabric you like, but consider whether any of the fabric is going to show in the finished piece. If the background is not stitched, or you want to frame it so that there is an exposed border around the piece, we like linen. If no fabric will show, you might as well use Aida and save a little money. This is discussed at more length in our tips section under Fabric.

The pictures on the site are actually computer-generated facsimiles of stitched work. For the closest resemblance to those pictures, we recommend 18- or 22-count aida.

Use our fabric calculator to calculate fabric yardage for various stitch counts, framing options, etc.

Our patterns include lists of the approximate floss requirements for 16- and 18-count fabric. Other counts are available by using our floss calculator.

A skein is the little bundle or package floss is sold in. A DMC skein is 8.7 yards or 8 meters in length.

Yes, you can print them from the web site. Visit the floss calculator.

Unfortunately many general craft stores don't stock all the colors, especially not the most recent additions to the DMC line. Usually a shop specializing in needlework will have all the colors. If you don't have such a shop locally, check the list of retailers -- most of them will be glad to help you. There are also lots of web sites which sell cross stitch supplies.

We don't recommend any particular site. Try doing a web search for "DMC floss" or whatever you need. Be sure to shop around as prices vary widely, and service too. Some places will cut fabric to the exact dimensions you require, while others only sell fixed sizes.

Our newer patterns give the floss requirements in both English and metric units. If you have an older pattern, figure:
< 12" = < 30 cm
2' = 60 cm
1 yd = 90 cm
2 yds = 1.8 m
3 yds = 2.7 m
1/2 skein = 4 m
3/4 skein = 6 m
1 skein = 8 m

We recommend a size 26 tapestry needle. Some people prefer size 28, which is smaller.

We are no longer selling patterns or floss labels. You can order from Paine Free Crafts.

Paine Free Crafts does not sell to shops, so any stock shops have will not be replaced as it is sold.

The pictures of the patterns on the individual pattern page are sized to fit that page. Much as in a road atlas where the map of each state fills one page, some pictures will have much more detail than others, and the stitch size varies from picture to picture. The fixed scale view link shows the pictures with a constant stitch size (stitches are 2 pixels on a side). Usually, but not always, the fixed scale view will be larger and more detailed than the view on the individual pattern page. This is useful for comparing different patterns of the same picture, and getting an idea of the relative sizes of the patterns.

The site is written in English, but the Google Translate button at the top of each page allows you to see pages in other languages. The translation is done automatically and may not always be accurate. Unfortunately, we have no control over this.

No, any browser should work. Things may look a little better with newer browsers.

Yes, you must have cookies enabled. We also use JavaScript which is not usually optional, although some browsers do allow it to be disabled.

Cookies are small pieces of information that are stored on your local computer by some of the sites you visit. They let sites "remember" things about you as you move from page to page. We use them to record the contents of your shopping cart. No one can see a cookie except you and the site that set that particular cookie.

JavaScript is a language used in some web pages for a variety of special features. We use it for shopping cart processing and a few other little things. It's also used for Google Translate.

This can change, so your best bet is to Google it. For example, "enable cookies chrome" or "enable Javascript Firefox".

No, the newsletter is free.

The newsletter is sent at irregular intervals, whenever there is any news about SQ Stitch.

The newsletter now just discusses SQ Stitch, but past topics included stitching tips. You can read past copies in our newsletter archive.

The newsletter is only available by email, but you can also read them in the archive on our web site.

Go to the subscriber services page, fill in your old and new addresses, and it's done.

There is an "unsubscribe" link in your "welcome" email and in every newsletter. Or click here to unsubscribe.

We may not have sent one since you subscribed. Or, if you didn't receive the confirming email at the time, you may have typed your email address incorrectly. Try subscribing again. It's also possible that you have an overactive spam blocker. If you use a system that sends an email requiring a person to click a link, you won't get the newsletter until you add sq @ scarletquince.com to your whitelist (remove the spaces).

If the newsletter email to you bounced (came back to us) two months in a row, you were removed from the list. Try resubscribing.

If we have your current email address, the most common reason for an email to bounce is that your inbox is full. The next most likely reason is that you (or your ISP) have a spam blocker that filtered it out. Even if you have the type of spam blocker that asks the sender to reply you will not receive the newsletter as it is sent by software, not a person. Finally, very occasionally there are bounces that are just a mistake.

Yes, we will continue to help people during a transitional period, but we encourage you to visit our Facebook group and ask your questions there. You are likely to get an answer sooner, and this will help other people who may be experiencing the same issue.

Our phone service will be discontinued after January 1, 2025.

It is an "app" that basically lets you view your chart, mark stitches complete, and search for additional stitches of a given symbol.

It will work on almost any computer, tablet, or phone.

It is really a web page, not a native app, so it is not in app stores. You just start it by accessing its URL (SQStitch) in your browser.

It is free to use.

No, it only works with Scarlet Quince patterns. We do not have the necessary data and agreements with other designers to support their patterns.

Yes, there is a general introduction to SQ Stitch's features, and a detailed user manual. Please refer to them for more information.

Currently it does require an internet connection to start. Once you are in, it doesn't use the internet. We are working on a version that you'll be able to install on your device that will not require the internet once it's installed. There isn't a completion date for that yet.