A comprehensive illustrated glossary of cross stitch, embroidery and needlework. Clear definitions and working diagrams. Includes cross stitch, embroidery, tapestry, blackwork, and goldwork.
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Eastern stitch | A counted thread stitch. Working from left to right, work horizontal stitch across four threads, insert needle and bring it out diagonally back four threads below staring point. Form vertical stitch be inserting needle again at starting point and bring needle out four threads to the right and four threads down. Then take needle under vertical stitch, over, around and under horizontal stitch, over loop formed without entering fabric and then insert needle through the same hole as it was brought out and out four threads above to begin next stitch. |
Edinburgh | An evenweave linen fabric 140 threads to 10 cms, 35 count |
Eggs in a Basket | A counted thread stitch The `basket' is formed by 4 horizontal stitches over 8,6,4,2 threads and there are 6 'eggs' to each basket , each worked over two threads of fabric. This looks best worked in two contrasting colours and is more easily worked with two needles. It can be scaled down to a smaller basket of 6,4 and 2 threads with three eggs in it. |
Embroidery/crewel needle | A needle with a longer eye than a standard sharps needle to suit stranded cotton but otherwise has the same dimensions. |
Encroaching Satin stitch | A free embroidery stitch used when the area is too large for a single satin stitch. The second set of stitches is worked between the rows of the first to blend smoothly. |
| See also Satin stitch | |
English stitch | A counted thread stitch This is worked in blocks in either horizontal or vertical rows. Work five vertical straight stitches an then oversew each of the four corners with two diagonal straight stitches of different lengths as shown, The size of the blocks can be varied but must always be over an even number of threads. |
Evenweave Fabric | Because the warp and weft threads are exactly the same evenweave fabrics are exactly on the square and are ideal for counted thread embroidery. The thread counts range from 5 to 15 per cm, 12 to 38 per inch and a stitch is normally worked over two threads but very fine work can be executed over one thread. |
Eye stitch | A counted thread stitch. This forms a square shape with all the stitches going through the central hole. By working the stitches in the order numbered in the diagram, (the even numbers are where the thread is stitched through the centre), thus making two trips round the centre, the final appearance is much neater than if every stitch is worked as you go round. |
| See also Algerian eye stitch, Diamond eyelet stitch, Eye stitch, Half eye stitch, Star eyelet stitch | |
Eyelets | A counted thread stitch. This forms a square shape with all the stitches going through the central hole. By working the stitches in the order numbered in the diagram, (the even numbers are where the thread is stitched through the centre), thus making two trips round the centre, the final appearance is much neater than if every stitch is worked as you go round. |
| See also Algerian eye stitch, Diamond eyelet stitch, Eye stitch, Half eye stitch, Star eyelet stitch | |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z