How to Smyrna Cross

Smyrna cross stitches in plastic canvas are beautiful, dimensional stitches that add interest and texture to any project. Worked in various sizes, Smyrna crosses can be background stitches or decorative accent stitches. They can be worked as individual stitches or multiple stitches in a row.

1.  Make a large cross stitch by bringing the needle up in the starting hole (1), cross over two bars and take the needle down through the canvas (2). Then bring the needle up at 3 and down at 4 to complete the first layer of the Smyrna cross.
2. To complete the Smyrna cross star shape, you will work a vertical stitch and a horizontal stitch on top of the cross stitch. Bring the needle up through the plastic canvas at the center bottom hole (5), then down at 6 to create the vertical bar, then up at 7 and down at 8 to create a horizontal bar and complete the stitch.