THE FACE-DOWN ALTERNATIVE
Both versions deserve a second thought having workplace security for the executioners as well as "fun" for the condemned in mind: crucify them face-down lying on their breasts and belly!
The lift-her-up only with the patibulum might be as follows: The convict, being through with rape and flagellation, has the patibulum loaded on her neck and shoulders as usual with the arms well-bound to it. A one inch hole should have been drilled or carved in the center of the patibulum before. After carrying this load to the stipes - or just some tree - she is forced down on her knees directly in front of the upright, with her back to the stipes. Her feet are tied or shackled behind the pole or tree.
Then she is forced forward to fall forward on her breast with the patibulum still on her neck, she coming to lie under it. The executioner can sit comfortable on the patibulum, thus immobilizing the victim, then twist the first arm over it so that the elbow resp. the crook of the arm is on top of the patibulum and then nail her wrist, palm down, to the back of the crossbar. Same procedure on the other side. Now, for a complete nailing, one foot is lifted up, the knee remaining on the ground directly besides of the stipes, and nailed through the heel. The other foot will be nailed the same way, thus both being fixed about 15 inches above the ground on either side of the pole.
A solid nail, at least 12 to 15 inches long, is hammered into the stipes about 6 feet above the ground (or has remained there from earlier occasions), pointing slightly downwards towards the pole and left protruding at least six to eight inches, thus serving as sort of a hook. Now the patibulum is lifted with the victim hanging below, the heels forced to turn upwards on the nails - a more painful way to be lifted on cross might be hardly imaginable. The executioner should manage this lift with help of just one aide. The patibulum is simply set with the hole in its center on the large nail 6 ft above ground. The condemned, with the arms over the patibulum and wrists nailed behind now not only has to dance on the nails and embrace the wood to find the best position for his own weight, but also manage to keep the patibulum more or less horizontal to keep the strain equal on both wrists. A time to enjoy! Of course the same style can be done just using rope, but it will be far less fun.
Of course the classic, complete cross can be used in a similar way with the same advantages. The condemned has to drag it to the execution site with the arms already tied to the crossbeam. Make her come to stand with the lower end of the cross next to hole in the ground where it will be erected, then make her fall forward (gently, we don't want her to get hurt too much, at least not now), with the cross coming to rest on her back. Now nail the arms in the same way (or leave them tied), hands behind the cross and palms to the wood. The feet are nailed at an appropriate height to both sides of the cross, opening to diamond shape for a fine display when upright. Now the cross with the condemned hanging below - might get a bit loud now - is lifted up to vertical, by this way also avoiding to fall forward when gliding into the hole - because that's where it comes from and where the executioners are standing and holding it! Safety first...