Brodeja embroidery kits: stitching on pre-printed Aida

Working from a traditional counted cross stitch chart requires concentration. You must constantly compare the chart with the fabric and count carefully where each stitch needs to be placed. Not every stitcher enjoys working this way. Those who prefer to see directly on the fabric where the cross stitches belong will find Brodeja embroidery kits a particularly accessible alternative.

Brodeja kits use pre-printed Aida fabric. The complete design is marked directly on the fabric, allowing you to follow the colours and squares easily while stitching. Each kit also includes a separate chart. This means that you can use both the printed fabric and the chart to check your progress and smaller details.

At Verelana, you will find Brodeja embroidery kits in different sizes and themes. The collection includes animals, horses, flowers, landscapes and other decorative designs.

What is a Brodeja embroidery kit?

A Brodeja embroidery kit is a complete cross stitch kit with the design already printed on the Aida fabric. You do not need to count from a blank piece of fabric to determine where each colour or stitch begins.

The kits contain the main materials needed to begin immediately:

• pre-printed 14 count Aida fabric;
• the required embroidery threads;
• an embroidery needle;
• a separate chart;
• information about the colours and stitches used.

The Brodeja kits in our range use 14 count Aida. This fabric has approximately 5.5 crosses per centimetre. The openings are clearly visible and the crosses remain large enough for comfortable stitching.

The difference between Brodeja and ordinary pre-printed Aida

The major difference between Brodeja and many other pre-printed embroidery kits is the exceptional precision of the HD printing.

On less accurately printed Aida fabric, a coloured area may fall partly beside the openings in the fabric. The stitcher then needs to rely mainly on the Aida structure and decide which holes should be used for each cross stitch.

With Brodeja, the printing is much more precise. The Aida fabric is specially adapted to the design and the printed colour areas align almost perfectly with the openings in the fabric. You can therefore follow the printing directly, with far less uncertainty about the correct position of each cross stitch.

This accurate match between the fabric and the printing makes stitching easier to follow:

• the printed squares correspond almost exactly to the true cross stitch squares;
• the correct openings are easy to find;
• colour changes are clearly visible;
• the risk of shifting a row or column is reduced;
• detailed areas can also be followed accurately.

The printing remains a temporary guide. After the stitching is complete, the print is fully removed from the fabric so that only the finished embroidery remains visible.

Contrasting print colours make the design easier to follow

The colours printed on the Aida fabric do not necessarily match the actual colours of the embroidery thread. Brodeja deliberately uses contrasting print colours.

There is a practical reason for this. If the printed colour looked too similar to the thread, it would be more difficult to see which squares had already been stitched and which still needed to be completed.

By using contrasting colours:

• the unstitched printed squares remain easy to recognise;
• completed cross stitches are easy to distinguish from the background;
• missed squares stand out more clearly;
• you can check your progress with each colour more easily.

While you are working, the embroidery may therefore temporarily show different colours from the final design. This is completely normal. Once the printing has been removed, only the actual embroidery thread colours remain visible.

Horizontal and vertical guide lines

In addition to the coloured squares, the fabric includes horizontal and vertical guide lines. These divide the design into clear sections.

The same grid appears on the separate chart. This allows you to follow the design square by square and easily check your position.

These grid lines are especially useful for larger embroidery projects. Instead of trying to oversee the complete design at once, you can work systematically in smaller sections.

The guide lines help you to:

• find your position more quickly;
• complete a specific section of the design;
• compare the printed fabric with the separate chart;
• avoid errors in rows and columns;
• check your progress one grid section at a time.

These lines are also part of the water-soluble printing and disappear when the fabric is soaked after completion.

Why is a separate chart included?

Although the complete design is printed on the fabric, every Brodeja kit also contains a separate chart.

The chart remains useful while stitching. It allows you to check which symbol or colour belongs in a particular area. For small details or closely positioned colour areas, the separate chart provides additional clarity.

The combination of pre-printed fabric and a separate chart gives you two ways to follow the design:

• the Aida fabric shows you directly where to stitch;
• the chart allows you to check the symbols, colours and overall structure.

You are therefore not dependent on the printing alone. The separate chart provides extra reassurance, especially with large or detailed designs.

14 count Aida: clear and comfortable to stitch

Brodeja kits are produced on 14 count Aida. This fabric has 14 crosses per English inch, equal to approximately 5.5 crosses per centimetre.

14 count Aida is a commonly used fabric for cross stitch. The squares are clearly visible and provide enough space to create regular cross stitches.

The fabric is not so coarse that the design loses detail, but it is also not so fine that the holes become difficult to see. This makes 14 count Aida an excellent match for Brodeja’s accurately pre-printed designs.

For beginners and experienced stitchers

Brodeja is accessible to anyone starting cross stitch for the first time. The pre-printed fabric clearly shows where each stitch belongs, and the openings in 14 count Aida are easy to see.

A beginner does not immediately need to learn how to combine blank fabric with a complicated counted chart. The design can be followed step by step using the printing.

Experienced stitchers may also appreciate Brodeja because less time is spent counting and it is easier to continue stitching for longer periods. Larger designs still provide many hours of stitching enjoyment despite the pre-printed fabric.

The difficulty level depends not only on the fabric, but also on the size, number of colour changes and amount of fine detail in the design.

Which subjects are available from Brodeja?

The Brodeja collection includes designs in a range of themes. At Verelana, you will find embroidery kits featuring:

• animals;
• horses;
• flowers and floral arrangements;
• landscapes;
• decorative and atmospheric scenes.

This allows you to choose a design that suits your personal taste or the place where you plan to display the finished embroidery.

A smaller animal design can be a manageable project between larger pieces. A large floral or landscape design requires more time, but becomes an impressive decorative work after completion.

Use only a square or rectangular embroidery frame

Pre-printed Aida must be tensioned carefully. Always use a square or rectangular embroidery frame or a suitable scroll frame.

Never use a round or oval hoop with pre-printed Aida. The curved edges apply uneven pressure to the printing. This can damage the ink, cause it to fade or even remove it completely in certain areas.

This becomes especially problematic when the fabric is moved repeatedly in a round hoop during stitching. The edge of the hoop may then press against different parts of the printed design each time.

A square or rectangular frame supports the fabric more evenly and helps preserve the printing. Tighten the fabric enough to work comfortably, but not so tightly that the fabric or printed squares become distorted.

Keep the following points in mind:

• use only a square or rectangular embroidery frame;
• avoid round and oval embroidery hoops;
• place the clamping edges outside the printed area whenever possible;
• tension the fabric evenly, but not excessively;
• check when moving the frame that the printing is not pinched or damaged.

A square or rectangular embroidery stand can also be particularly practical. The fabric remains stable and you can work with both hands without constantly applying pressure to the printed surface.

How do you begin a Brodeja embroidery kit?

First check the complete contents of the kit. Arrange the embroidery threads, needle, fabric and chart clearly.

Then examine the chart and the printed Aida. Choose a clearly defined section where you would like to begin. The grid lines allow you to work one section at a time.

Use the number of strands stated in the instructions. Embroidery floss normally consists of several separable strands. Do not automatically stitch with the full strand unless the instructions specifically tell you to do so.

Work all lower halves of the cross stitches in the same direction and place all upper halves consistently in the opposite direction. This gives the finished embroidery an even surface.

Avoiding common mistakes

Although Brodeja’s HD printing is extremely precise, several precautions remain important.

Never use a round or oval hoop to tension the fabric. The curved edges can damage or even completely remove the water-soluble printing. Always choose a square or rectangular frame that supports the fabric evenly.

Check the included chart regularly. The printed fabric is highly accurate and can be followed directly, but the separate chart remains useful for checking colours, symbols and small details.

Do not use a pen, marker or other permanent writing tool to add extra markings. The original ink is water-soluble, but your own marks may not disappear.

Do not wash or dampen the fabric until the complete design has been stitched. The printing dissolves in water. If the fabric becomes wet during stitching, part of the pattern may disappear before you have finished.

Work with clean, dry hands and protect the embroidery from water, moisture and spills until the project is fully complete.

What happens to the printed colours and lines?

The printed colours, symbols and grid lines are temporary. They are intended to make stitching easier and must be removed after completion.

Do not wash the fabric beforehand. The printing needs to remain visible throughout the stitching process.

Once all cross stitches have been completed, place the fabric in cold or lukewarm water below 30 °C for at least three hours. The printing will gradually dissolve.

Leave the fabric in the water until all coloured areas and guide lines have completely disappeared. Then rinse the embroidery again with clean water.

Do not use hot water. Excessive heat may have an adverse effect on the printing and the embroidery.

How to remove the printing correctly

After completing the embroidery, follow these steps:

1. Check carefully that every square has been fully stitched.
2. Fill a clean bowl or container with cold or lukewarm water below 30 °C.
3. Place the complete embroidery in the water.
4. Allow the fabric to soak for at least three hours.
5. Check that all printing and grid lines have dissolved.
6. Rinse the fabric again with clean water.
7. Allow the embroidery to dry carefully.

Do not wring the fabric. You can gently remove excess water by placing it between clean towels. Then allow the work to dry flat or follow the care instructions supplied with the kit.

The final colours and details of the embroidery become fully visible only after the printing has been completely removed.

Buy Brodeja embroidery kits at Verelana

At Verelana, you will find a wide range of Brodeja embroidery kits with precisely pre-printed 14 count Aida. The kits contain the required fabric, embroidery thread, a needle and a separate chart.

The contrasting colours, grid lines and separate chart help you maintain a clear overview throughout the project. The highly accurate HD printing aligns almost perfectly with the openings in the specially adapted Aida fabric.

After stitching, the temporary printing is dissolved in cold or lukewarm water. What remains is the completed cross stitch design in the true colours of the embroidery threads.

You can explore the Brodeja collection online or visit our embroidery shop in Sint-Truiden. We are happy to help you choose a design, a square or rectangular embroidery frame and suitable embroidery accessories.