Cross stitch, Needlework and Embroidery Glossary: Macedonian stitch to Mylar
A comprehensive illustrated glossary of cross stitch, embroidery and needlecraft. Clear definitions and working diagrams. Includes over 700 terms used in cross stitch, embroidery, tapestry, blackwork, and goldwork.
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Macedonian stitch | A free embroidery filling stitch.
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Magic Chain stitch | A free embroidery stitch. Thread the needle with two colours. Come out at A and insert needle at B holding one loop under the needle with the thumb. That colour will make a chain, next time hold down other colour to alternate colours. |
| See also Chequered chain stitch | |
Maltese Cross | A counted thread stitch . A large feature stitch used singly usually in samplers. First lay straight stitches following the numbers on the diagram and being careful to weave over and under. The lattice is then laced firstly by bringing the thread out at the arrow and passing under and over the intersections as illustrated, finishing at the same point before taking the thread to the back of the work again. |
Marlitt | A lustrous embroidery thread made of 100% Viscose/Rayon with a sheen. It can be stranded down to one ply. |
Milanese stitch | A counted thread stitch giving the impression of opposing triangles. Diagonal stitches are worked two on each diagonal, the first row over four intersections and one and then three and two intersections, two and three intersections and one and four intersections and so on. |
| See also Oriental stitch, Straight milanese stitch | |
Mille Fleur Pattern Couching | A free embroidery stitch used for gold work. An area is filled with horizontal rows , turning sharply at the end of each row and the couching threads are placed in a `flower ' pattern as shown. |
| See also Couching, Gold work | |
Mirrored Herringbone stitch | A counted thread stitch variation of herringbone stitch. Stitches are worked diagonally across six fabric thread intersections with each stitch followed by one parallel and two threads to the right as shown in the diagram. |
| See also Herringbone stitch | |
Modified Leviathan stitch | A counted thread stitch . A large version of Leviathan where the first large cross stitch is made over six fabric intersections. Follow the numbering as shown finishing with an upright cross in the centre. |
| See also Leviathan stitch | |
Mono canvas | A fine cotton canvas made in Denmark, available in white, pastels and Christmas colours. It is a good alternative to evenweave linen for working samplers where the background is left unworked. This is called gongress cloth in the UK. |
| See also Canvas | |
Mono interlock canvas | Similar to evenweave canvas but the threads pass through each other where they intersect. This means that the fabric does not easily unravel and so can be trimmed close to the worked area, useful for small items such as napkin rings. To tell the difference run your fingers over the canvas, with mono interlock there are no ridges. |
| See also Canvas | |
Monograms | Initials letters used to personalise items. |
Montenegrin Cross stitch | A counted thread stitch. Work from left to right. Bring out needle at bottom of cross at left. Insert needle eight threads to right and four threads up, then bring out four threads to right of starting point. Insert again four threads up from starting place and bring out in the same place as last time. Insert four threads up and bring out again at same place as last time. Continue along row. |
Moorish stitch | A counted thread stitch which is normally worked in two colours. Work from left to right diagonally down across fabric. One colour is used for the squares made up of stitches worked diagonally over two, four, six, four, two and so intersections. The second colour follows the squares but is always worked over two intersections. |
Mosaic filling stitch | A counted thread stitch. Work four blocks of 4 satin stitches over three threads each to form a square as shown in diagram. Then bring thread through at bottom right corner of inner square. Work a four sided stitch in inner square bringing needle out again at starting point and work cross stitch in centre. |
| See also Cross stitch, Drawn fabric work, Satin stitch | |
Mosaic stitch | A counted thread stitch Three diagonal stitches are worked over 1, 2 and 1 thread to form a small box . |
| See also Mosaic stitch with tent stitch | |
Mosaic stitch with Tent stitch | A counted thread stitch A variation of mosaic stitch where mosaic boxes are alternated with the same area worked in tent stitch to give a checkerboard pattern. Very similar to chequer stitch but each square is worked over a smaller area. |
| See also mosaic stitch, Chequer stitch, Tent stitch | |
Mosaic variation | A counted thread stitch . Four diagonal stitches each over two fabric threads are worked to make a small diamond. When the area is filled with diamonds small upright cross stitches are worked in the centre of each diamond in the same or contrasting colour. |
| See also Upright cross stitch | |
Moss stitch | A free embroidery spot filling stitch. This is worked in a regular pattern with alternate rows in the space of the previous one. An ordinary cross stitch is worked as a foundation and is then crossed by a longer vertical stitch. This stitch enters the fabric only at the top and bottom and is looped round the centreof the cross stitch , making a twisted chain stitch with a long tail. |
| See also Cross and twist stitch, Cross stitch | |
Mountmellick | A surface free embroidery stitch used traditionally in white work It gets its name from a town in Ireland. This stitch is worked vertically. Come up at A and make s stitch from B to C where B is below and slightly to the right and C is immediately below A. Pull through to give a slanting stitch. Without entering the fabric pass the needle from D to E. Take a vertical stitch going into the same holes from A to C and looping the thread under the needle, draw through. This completes one stitch. Start the next stitch by making a stitch between F and G , then slide the needle under the slanting stitch as before. Go in at C right inside the stitch as in chain stitch and come out at G and so on. This is best worked in heavy thread. |
| See also Chain stitch | |
Multiple cross stitch | A counted thread stitch Work double cross stitches as shown and then work basic cross stitches over the arms of the double crosses. Finally work eight small stitches over one thread going into the central hole and pulling these very firmly. |
| See also Cross stitch, Double cross stitch | |
Multiple rice stitch | A counted thread stitch A variation on rice stitch with the initial cross stitch made over an even number of threads of 8 or above and each arm crossed with smaller diagonal stitches as shown. See also triple rice stitch. |
| See also Cross stitch, Rice stitch, Triple rice stitch | |
Murano | An evenweave cotton fabric 126 threads to 10 cms, 32 count |
Mylar | A mirror like aluminium backed with linen or cotton which can be cut and used as a substitute for mirrors in shisha work. |
| See also Shisha work | |
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