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Assisi work is one of the cross stitching world's best kept secrets. It's an easy to learn technique and creates stunning results that cost next to nothing; and the great thing about it is, that if you can do cross stitch you can do Assisi work, as it is simply cross stitch 'inside out' and is one of the easiest techniques to learn.
Inside out
When we say 'inside out' we mean that the stitches are the same but the design rules are completely reversed. Unlike traditional cross stitch, the outlining in Assisi work is done first and then the background is filled with cross stitch. The evenweave or aida inside the outline is left unstitched or 'voided'. This gives the motifs the look of a modern stencil type pattern which is very appealing.
You can achieve some fantastic effects by playing around with the colour of your threads and fabric and the choice of your motifs. So, if you're looking for a new technique that has both classic and contemporary appeal then Assisi work might be exactly what you want.
Starting to stitch
In traditional Assisi work, the outlines are always worked before the cross stitching using a particular type of backstitch called Holbein or double running stitch. The reason Holbein stitch is used instead of ordinary backstitch is because it's reversible (the stitching looks the same on the back as it does on the front). This works well in traditional Assisi work as the main design is often embellished with lines of scroll work - and to see the threads from the back could ruin the effect.
Why do we call it Assisi?
Most people have heard of Assisi because it's the birthplace of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of birds and animals. But it is also where the stitching technque Assisi orginates. In the early 1900s, local women began copying designs found in mediaeval embroideries to decorate household linens and clothing. Mythical beasts like dragons and other more familiar birds and animal were stitched on white or cream fabric using red or blue for the cross stitch, and brown or black for the outlines. Gradually, what started out as a regional cottage industry spread to the rest of Europe and as it grew in popularity foreign visitors to Assisi took the technique back to their own countries and started creating their own designs.
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