What makes the X such a compelling shape for beadwork — and how do you design with one?
The X is one of the most loaded marks in human history — a national flag, a kiss, a destination, a deletion, and an unknown variable, all from two intersecting lines. It also happens to be one of the most interesting shapes to work with in peyote stitch and bead weaving, because its diagonal geometry creates four distinct triangular colour zones that most beaders don't expect when they first pick it up.
This post covers the history and symbolism of the X, how it behaves differently from an upright cross in beadwork design, and how to approach colour planning for a four-quadrant structure. The Keepsake Collection X box linked below suits beaders with some peyote stitch experience — beginners are welcome to start there, but the raised beaded lid involves some patience.
The X and the Cross — They're Not the Same Thing
It's worth being clear about this, because the distinction matters in beadwork. The Keepsake Collection Crosses box is an X — a diagonal saltire form — rather than an upright plus sign. Rotate one 45 degrees and you have the other; they share the same square base but read very differently in a design.
The upright cross divides its square into four rectangular zones. The X — sitting on the diagonal — divides its square into four triangular zones. That shift in geometry changes everything about how you plan colour, because triangles have a directional energy that rectangles don't. Your eye moves differently through a triangular quadrant than through a rectangular one, and the intersection point of the X becomes a natural focal that pulls attention to the centre regardless of what else is happening in the design.
In peyote stitch and brick stitch, the diagonal geometry of the X also means your colour rows run at an angle to the stitch structure — which produces a slightly different challenge than a grid-aligned design, and a more dynamic result.
A Brief History of the X
The saltire — the heraldic name for the diagonal cross — appears on the flags of Scotland, Jamaica, and Burgundy, among others. St Andrew's Cross, white on blue, is one of the oldest national symbols still in continuous use and forms one of the three layers of the Union Jack.
But the X predates heraldry by centuries. The Greek letter Chi (X) is the first letter of Christos, making it one of the earliest Christian symbols — long before the upright cross became standard. In Yoruba and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions, the crossroads in its X orientation is the domain of Eshu, the orisha of thresholds and transitions. And then there is the simple, universal X of affection — the kiss at the end of a note, tracing back to medieval oaths sealed with a mark and a kiss.
One shape. Centuries of meaning. A genuinely interesting design brief.
Designing With the X: Four Quadrants, Infinite Decisions
Because the X creates four triangular quadrants, it's a natural four-colour palette structure — but you don't have to use four colours. The more interesting question is how you want those quadrants to relate to each other.
Do all four triangles match? That creates unity and lets the X arm read as the hero. Do opposite triangles match and adjacent ones contrast? That creates a pinwheel energy — the eye rotates around the centre. Does the X arm itself sit in a completely different colour to all four quadrants? That throws all the emphasis onto the diagonal lines. Each answer creates a fundamentally different piece from the same structure.
High contrast between the X arm and the background will make the saltire shape read clearly and boldly. Lower contrast softens it into something more impressionistic. Both are valid — but the decision needs to be made deliberately, because the X shape relies on contrast to be legible.
The Keepsake Collection X Box
The Keepsake Collection X box is a 7cm square base with a diagonal saltire lid — the same square format as the Star box, just rotated. The beadwork covers the lid with a peyote band around the outside edge and a raised beaded X sitting on top.
The four-quadrant structure makes this one of the most colour-flexible designs in the collection — conservative and graphic, or bold and kaleidoscopic, depending entirely on your palette choices.
The Keepsake Collection is a subscription, but single boxes are available if you'd like to try the X shape on its own.
Where to Start
If you're new to designing with the X motif, start with the colour planning before you pick up a needle. Lay out four bead colours and decide how you want the quadrants to relate — that decision will shape everything else. Download the free Chase the X Beadesign printable guide for symbolism, the quadrant colour planner, and design ideas. The Keepsake Collection X box (from AU$22.95) includes a 3D-printed base and works in peyote stitch. Browse the full PDF tutorial range at On A String for more geometric beading projects.
Happy stitching, friends. May your X mean exactly what you want it to mean. ✕