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| KNOW-HOW |
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| Getting to grips with straight stitches |
Straight stitches are used frequently alongside cross stitch to add detail and outline to designs, so whilst it's necessary to get your cross stitches looking neat, it's equally important that any extra stitches added for detail don't let you down.
The two straight stitches used in conjunction with cross stitch are backstitch and long stitch. Long stitches are generally used for adding details such as whiskers to animals and stamens and stalks to flowers. Backstitch, in contrast, may not be that obvious when you look at the finished design, especially if the backstitch thread shade matches that of the cross stitch.
As well as backstitch and longstitch, you may also come across another type of straight stitch called Holbein stitch which was originally used in blackwork and Assisi embroidery. Have a look at the descriptions and diagrams below to see how to work each of these useful stitches.
Backstitch
Backstitch is a short, straight stitch. The length of a backstitch is generally equal to the size of a cross stitch, whether worked straight or on the diagonal. Occasionally it is worked over two stitches on the diagonal to create a shallower angle.
Four uses of backstitch:
* to outline part of a design in a contrasting or matching thread
* to add intricate details over the top of cross stitch
* to work thin lines for borders
* to work straight stitch for lettering.
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Long stitch
Long stitch, as the name implies, is a long stitch. More commonly it is found in freehand embroidery but it is used in cross stitch to add lines over the top of the cross stitch to complete the design once the other stitching is finished. Because the thread lies across the top of the cross stitch it is better to work long stitch while your stitching is still stretched in an embroidery hoop or frame. Use a single strand to work long stitch.
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Holbein stitch
Holbein stitch is also known as double running stitch. A row of running stitch is worked and then a second row is stitched to fill in the gaps. This stitch is traditionally used in Assisi embroidery to outline the motifs before the background of cross stitches is filled in. It is ideal for working long straight lines, such as borders, in cross stitch embroidery.
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