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Cross stitch, Needlework and Embroidery Glossary: Oblique gobelin stitch to Overlaying

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.

Click thumbnails to enlarge.

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O

Oblique gobelin stitch

A counted thread stitch. Oblique gobelin stitch - click to enlarge

This is often trammed in needlepoint. Bring needle through and up right diagonally across fabric over two inter sections to form the first stitch, insert needle and pull through one thread left of base of previous stitch to form the next stitch. Continue in this way in this row and following. This stitch can up worked over up to five horizontal fabric threads and one or two vertical fabric threads. Oblique gobelin stitch - click to enlarge
This also known as wide gobelin stitch or slanting Gobelin stitch.

See also Needlepoint, Slanting gobelin stitch, Tramming, Wide gobelin stitch

Oblique Slav stitch

A counted thread stitch Oblique Slav stitch - click to enlarge

This is worked diagonally from bottom to top, left to right following the numbers as shown. It can also be worked in rows horizontally.


Oblong cross stitch

A counted thread stitch. Oblong cross stitch - click to enlarge

Working from right to left bring needle out at lower right hand, insert four threads up and two to the left, bring out four threads below, thus forming half oblong cross stitch. Continue along row and work second half of the cross on return.
It can be worked in either direction but must be consistent.

See also Oblong cross stitch with backstitch

Oblong cross stitch with backstitch

A counted thread stitch variation of oblong cross stitch. Oblong cross stitch with backstitch - click to enlarge

Working from right to left bring needle out at lower right hand, insert four threads up and two to the left, bring out four threads below, thus forming half oblong cross stitch. Continue along row and work second half of the cross on return.
It can be worked in either direction but must be consistent. When the area to be worked is filled, a row of backstitches is worked over the centre of each row of oblong cross stitch, in the same or contrasting thread.

See also Oblong cross stitch

Octagonal Rhodes stitch

A counted thread stitch Octagonal Rhodes stitch - click to enlarge

A variation on rhodes stitch which makes a raised surface. It is worked in the same way as rhodes stitch with each stitch moving one thread in an anticlockwise direction from the previous but the outline is octagonal rather than square. Follow the numbering from 1 – 22 for the starting point of each stitch which passes over a central point.

See also Rhodes stitch

Old English knot stitch

A free embroidery.Old English knot stitch - click to enlarge

Work from left to right. Bring needle through at A then make a small stitch at right angles to stitch line and pull through. Pass thread over and then under the stitch on surface without needle entering the fabric. then hold thread down with left thumb and pass the needle again over and under the stitch on surface. Pull thread through to make a knot. Space knots evenly and fairly close for best effect. Also known as double knot stitch, tied coral stitch, smyrna stitch and palestrina stitch.

See also Double knot stitch, Palestrina knot stitch, Smyrna stitch, Tied coral stitch

Old Florentine stitch

A counted thread stitch Old Florentine stitch - click to enlarge

Work alternating long and short stitches as shown, with the long stitch over six fabric threads or more. An economical and quick to work stitch but the threads can be caught easily.


Open chain stitch

A free embroidery stitch variation of chain stitch.Open chain stitch - click to enlarge

Bring needle through at A, hold thread down with left thumb, insert needle at B and bring out at C, keeping thread loose. Holding thread down again, insert needle at D and bring out at E. Continue in this way.

See also Chain stitch

Open fillings

Usually used in white work or hardanger, this is worked on an area of drawn threads within a border of trailing stitch. Open fillings - click to enlarge

Outline the shape with two rows of trailing side by side worked one after the other. Then cut and draw out threads within the shape, cut two and leave two threads in each directions, just inside the trailing. With fine thread in a blunt (tapestry) needle, whip the remaining threads together as shown in both directions.
Then a squared filling pattern can be used on top.

See also Hardanger, Squared filling, Trailing stitch

Open fishbone stitch

A free embroidery stitch Open fishbone stitch  - click to enlarge

Bring thread out just left of centre of shape and take it up to the right edge diagonally. Bring needle out again on left edge of shape and take just to right of centre diagonally. Bring thread through again just to left of centre a little below, and repeat from beginning.


Opus Plumarium

A free embroidery stitch used to shade large areas in silk and crewel embroidery . Opus Plumarium - click to enlarge

The first row of stitches are alternately long and short stitches and the following rows are stitches of an even length until the last row of the area where stitch length is varied to finish the filling. Opus Plumarium - click to enlarge
This can be used with fine shading colours. A version called surface long and short stitch is more economical with floss. Other names for this stitch are long and short stitch, shading stitch, tapestry shading stitch, plumage stitch, feather work and embroidery stitch

See also Crewel embroidery, Embroidery stitch, Feather stitch, Long and short stitch, Plumage stitch, Shading stitch, Surface long and short stitch, Tapestry shading stitch

Or Nue

A technique in Gold work where coloured silk threads are used to couch gold threads making a shaded pattern.
See also Gold work

Oriental Stitch

A counted thread stitch – a variation on Milanese stitch. Oriental Stitch - click to enlarge

Start with rows of Milanese stitch as in the diagram over two intersections, three, four, five and two again. The second row is worked downwards over five, four, three, two intersections but instead of interlocking the longest stitches are adjacent leaving space for groups of three diagonal stitches over two intersections which can be worked in a different shade as shown.

See also Milanese stitch

Oslo

An evenweave cotton fabric 87 threads to 10 cms, 22 count

Outline stitch

A stitch used in smocking.Outline stitch - click to enlarge

After the temporary stitches have been worked, this basic smocking stitch is worked slightly above. It is not very elastic and serves to keep the work taut. Pick up a pleat just above the gathering thread. Keeping the thread above the needle, make the stitch from left to right. Stitch into each successive pleat.

See also Smocking

Outlined Double cross stitch

A counted thread stitch Outlined Double cross stitch - click to enlarge

Work double cross stitches and then work straight stitches over four threads horizontally and vertically as shown.

See also Double cross stitch

Overcast stitch

A free embroidery stitch, used to protect the raw edge of eyelet holes, for monograms or for stalks and stems.Overcast stitch - click to enlarge

Bring needle through below stitch line, then work over line and bring needle through below line to the right. Repeat.

See also Monograms

Overlaying

A method of working tent stitch or cross stitch on a fabric where threads cannot be counted. Waste canvas is tacked to the fabric and then after the embroidery is finished the canvas threads are pulled out.
See also Waste canvas

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