Cross Stitch Parking Method 101 for Beginners | Caterpillar Cross Stitch

Im never ever gonna be good in parking method. Especially when there are lots of confetti of different colors in a 10x10 square. Should i skip and do last? (Save the worst for last 😅)

Ive been cross stitching for years but its amazing how even someone that's intermediate can learn from a beginner video! Who on EARTH i never thought of just making DOTS for gridding my aida or linen....oh my gosh. Ypu have just saved me HOURS OF WORK! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!💓 ❤🎉🎉

It's so smart that you fold your pattern to the exact column you're working on. That will help me keep my place more easily when I'm doing normal stitching. May I ask what kind of thread you're using? It looks high quality!

This video is REALLY REALLY HELPFUL to learn how to do a parking method. Thank you!

I've been cross stitching for many, many years, but never heard of this method before now. Wow! What a revelation. Your explanation is terrific.

What kind of stand are you using. Could you make a video about that? Explaining some ways and tools to use. Thank you.
Lovely stitches by the way.

This was incredibly helpful - thank you! I especially found your explanations and reasonings to be informative.
May I ask what sort of a project stand are you using (the wooden stand that's holding your hoop up)?
Thanks again!

Ive done 2 pieces of cross stitch that are over 20 inches both lengths long, and for some reason I wish I could do this method, but my way of cross stitching is organised chaos! I feel like other people would see my mess of a project and have a heart attack but it somehow works for me 😂

You are very good at teaching and the way you speak is so clear!

What does the back of the fabric look like when using the parking method?

G'day I just found your channel. I have always wondered how you do the parking method, it looked very complicated to me. This video is great you explain and show us so clearly. On my next full coverage I will consider trying it. Thanks again look forward to seeing your other videos.
Watching from New Zealand

I’ve done small cross stitch projects in the past but did a lot more embroidery over the years. I’m about to embark on a project involving 4 seasons. I can’t wait to try the parking method you have shown! You are an amazing instructor!!!

I am still a cross country girl. Parking method makes me crazy. My brain just doesn't enjoy this style. Cross Stitch is my relaxation time-and Parking makes me so anxious! It uses more thread and it makes the back lumpy and messy! Yicks! I do large Full Coverage all the time and never use Parking. So, thank you for the video, but parking is not "an essential skill" for Full Coverage. 😁

I started using this method after this video and it’s turning my nightmare project into a manageable, fun project! ❤

I wish I had seen this video before I started this huge piece that I bought at the fabric store in 2020, thinking I would finish it during the pandemic but having no idea what I was getting myself into. I haven't made a lot of progress because it stressed me out to do the cross country method with so many different colors. The parking method seems perfect for me. I plan to combine it with the sewing method...we'll see how that works, I just really like only having to poke through from the front not the back, searching for the right hole.

Fantastic instructions! I’m starting my first full coverage in Oct. Thank you!

I have no words!! No, I’m kidding, I have a ton. Lol. I am pretty new to cross stitch, I’ve done hand embroidery for years but new to X stitching. I have watched many videos on parking as I really wanted to love it and I always left the videos with more questions and just not getting the entire picture! This was FANTASTIC! I am so grateful for this video! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I can not wait to try it!!

I’m doing my literal first piece ever and it’s massive (movie poster size). I have been feeling super inefficient because I’m a cross country stitcher too. This video is AMAZING!! Thank you!!!

Too much like hard work!!🙄

Thank you so much! I'm new at parking (have been stitching for a couple decades), so this was wonderful to see.

How did you thread and unthread in this video?

Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial, it helped me to understand this method completely.

how long do you choose to cut your thread, especially when using this method?

What a great idea. But what happens when you have to frog?

Thank you! You did a very good job of explaining it. I really love how you grid your fabric. I love the dot idea! Thank you so much.

I still don't understand unfortunately :(

Can you show me the back of the work please?

Thank you for this explaination. I work 100% in hand and only do huge full coverage. I use paper patterns and for each symbol I assigned a marker color that I mark with the color as I stitch it. I prop up my pattern so I can look at it as I work. I don't do the block approach. I work sections and do one color at a time. I start with colors that have the most coverage, then work my way through the colors. I don't think I could handle the parking method working in hand .. too many strands all over the place. When I "travel" I turn over my piece and weave the travelling through through other threads. If it's too long a distance, I start and stop the thread.

Thank you for this clear explanation!

Wow superb video!❤️ I'm new to cross stitching and I have a (big) projet right now that I'll be able to use this technique to save time. Thank you so much for passing on your knowledge is such an easy way to understand, even for beginner in this craft.

I have such a small piece to do and the counted cross stitch was beyond me but I like your explanation of this method to save time…of course it helps to have table clamps or lap stand to hold your work. It’s nice to not have to keep turning to the back to end threads. Do you have all threads on a needle?
Wow! Thank you for encouraging us to find our way with your interpretation of the parking method. It seems simpler already! 🙏🏽🙋🏻‍♀️👍🏽 Mia

what is the hoop holder that you are using? does it go under your lap to hold it up?

Hello Marie, thank you so much for this well explained tutorial for the parking method. I'm cross stitching for about a month and I'm excited to learn new methodical methods and also the names of them (in the past I was using the Danish method without knowing it is called like that!). This parking method would helped me with some of my miscounting issues, that I needed to start anew after messing up... Even tho I gridding my cloth but the patterns varies so many times, like 10x10 boxes, some even with 5x5 boxes, or different starting points, like in the middle counting as 0 or on the left top corner, that was very confusing to me.
Country Stitching still looks very good combinable, as you have shown! So I will try to use the parking method in the future.
There is still one question left for me, maybe it might seems strange or unimportant to others but... How long is the thread you are using? I precutted some of my skeins on arms length, as some recommend, that helped me not to tangle my threads but it seems, that the thread you are using is longer than that? Thank you in advance and happy stitching!

I had no idea about this method, thank you for sharing your talent.

New learner. How do you determine the amount of thread you'd use when parking? I feel like I would be running out pretty fast using this method?

This was a great video and I now understand how this method is done. I would have loved to see what the back looks like with all of the threads that had "traveled" across the back. I guess they were covered by the cross stitches, but I would have liked to have seen the back. I love your videos. Thanks so much for this one.

Such a clear explanation….I had never heard of this method at all……you have encouraged me to take up cross stitching again! Thank you so much🙂

Marie thanks for very understandable demo. One question what does the back of your work look like ? I presume that if the thread is behind one of your stitches you stitch over the top of it??

Great video, you explained it wonderfully. I can wait to try it now, I would travel my threads. Thank you

Huh…very interesting! It’s cool to see how different everyone stitches. I complete each stitch one at a time because I prefer hand-dyed threads and it looks weird if you don’t. I also LIKE the process of completing an “X”! I do not, however, like bulk in the back that pushes the stitches up in the front. This might be something I try!

Think that I will attempt this pattern since it is smaller for my first full coverage pattern. Is this kit available yet?

This will be great when I work on a 30 year old long forgotten counted large tiger face with green foliage on black background.

This is so helpful. I was hesitant to try it but you’re so thorough, I will give it a try

This is the first time I've heard about this method. I'm a self-taught crafter so there are techniques I'm lacking. I love this because it's logical all the way. I wish I had thought of it, lol.

Thank you so much for such a great video. Every question I had along the way was eventually answered, and I appreciate your precise explanations! I have just started my first full coverage project, and am excited to give this a try :)

I finally had some time to watch this! I started my first Mirabilia at the beginning of the year and have been wondering about this method. This was great! am going to try this on her.

Very clear explanation of parking, however I have very similar colored threads and I would not know which was which, so I don't feel I can do this.

I'm doing a very small piece where the angel is full coverage. I learned so much from this video. Thanks for sharing.

This method might help me with my cross stitch as I quite often make mistakes as I’ve miscounted stitches because they’re too far away. Doing blocks like this eliminates that problem.

Thank you for explaining really well. ❤❤

I always learn more methods and names. I used the parking method on my own self taught, but never worked a 10x10 before. I am currently working on my largest pattern ever. This will helps so much. I def use the Danish stitching and I guess some cross country. Lolz. I never knew they had names. I will try this complete method. I have 8 more pages to do. Tysm for sharing!