Some of the outlining is on top of the cross stitching, so any way you cut it, the outlining is done last. I don't do counted cross stitch anymore, but I do cross stitching and there is outlining within the cross stitches with that also. (I generally pick the color that I like the least and start with a color and work it until that color is done and then go on to another color (but then it is not counted cross stitch like you are doing.) Like it was said before - outlining makes it pop! Edie

me 2

Always outline last...

For the reasons mentioned, and (years ago) after doing a huge and tedious one "outline first" then having to re-outline every inch of it after doing the cross stitching......I always stitch first, then outline. Sometimes I think the directions are written by non-cross-stitchers!

I have always done the outline last.

Another one who does the outline last.

Most definitely do the cross stitch first, otherwise you have nothing to outline.

I can see how the pattern might be easier to follow if the outlining was stitched first, but I've always crosstitched first then outlined.

I always outline last.