It gives a much more open-ended and creative experience for cross-stitch fans who want to try something new. “Freestyle embroidery provides a world of creative freedom,” explains Zhelezniak.

Ahead, I'm recommending 13 different cross stitching kits you can order today. They're all quite affordable, so you could even stock up on a few. Let's take a look.

Cross-stitching and needlepoint are accessible to different income and skill levels—because it’s all about plugging in a pattern based on graphs, straightforward instructions, and low-priced kits.

Thread your embroidery floss through the needle and tie a knot (several times) at one end. Begin cross stitching your canvas, following your pattern exactly. This is how the back will look.

What to do To cross-stitch your giant squid, you need to make a small cross of embroidery thread to match every coloured square on the pattern: Choose a square roughly in the middle of the giant squid ...