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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Half cross stitch | A counted thread stitch used extensively in needlepoint. Work left to right from top of fabric, take needle diagonally up across an intersection insert needle and bring out one thread below, continue in this way to end of row. To work second row take needle down left over intersection and insert to form a new stitch always inserting needle in a vertical position. Continue this way row by row. On reverse the stitches will be vertical. |
| See also Half stitch, Needlepoint | |
Half eye stitch | A counted thread stitch This is worked as eyelet or eye stitch with each block worked over four vertical and eight horizontal threads. The threads are very densely packed and seventeen stitches are worked into the central hole which may require it to be enlarged with a stiletto. Stitches must always be worked from front to back into this hole. the following blocks are dropped by half a pattern. |
| See also Eye stitch, Eyelets | |
Half Portuguese Stem Stitch | A free embroidery stitch. The stem stitch is wrapped once, going through two stitches. The thread is kept above the needle which does not penetrate the fabric. |
| See also Stem stitch | |
Half Rhodes stitch | A counted thread stitch A variation on rhodes stitch this is worked in diagonal rows from the top left to bottom right with stitches interlocking on the row above. The first stitch is worked diagonally over six intersections and the following stitches are worked in an anti clockwise direction until seven have been worked. |
| See also Rhodes stitch | |
Half Stitch | A counted thread stitch used extensively in needlepoint. Work left to right from top of fabric, take needle diagonally up across an intersection insert needle and bring out one thread below, continue in this way to end of row. To work second row take needle down left over intersection and insert to form a new stitch always inserting needle in a vertical position. Continue this way row by row. On reverse the stitches will be vertical. |
| See also Half cross stitch, Needlepoint | |
Hardanger | An evenweave cotton fabric 87 threads to 10 cms, 22 count. Also a style of drawn thread work originally from Norway, worked on fine evenweave fabric. The area to be removed is first surrounded by satin stitch in pearl cotton or stranded cotton, known as Kloster Blocks. After the threads are drawn, weaving and filling stitches are used in the spaces .Special scissors and tweezers are useful when drawing.. |
| See also Cording, Drawn thread work, Four sided filling stitch, Four sided stitch, Kloster blocks, Satin stitch, Woven bars | |
Heavy chain stitch | A free embroidery stitch variation of chain stitch. Bring needle through at top of each line and make a short stitch downwards. Bring needle up just below this stitch and pass the thread under the vertical stitch re-entering the fabric at the same place as it came out. Bring needle out just below this and pass the needle under the vertical thread again. Continue making stitches in this way passing needle under the two preceding loops. |
| See also Braid stitch, Chain stitch | |
Hem Stitch | A counted thread stitch used in drawn thread work or hardanger. The first step is to draw out the threads from the fabric. Decide on the length of the hem and then withdraw the first thread two threads above this. To do this pull out the thread near the edge of the material and then take it firmly and pull right out from across the whole width of the material. The number of threads withdrawn will depend on the fabric and the pattern you intend to work. A fine fabric needs only a few threads taken out, a heavier fabric needs more. |
| See also Beaded somersault stitch, Coton à Broder, Diamond hemstitch, Double hem stitch, Drawn thread work, Hardanger, Italian hem stitch, Ladder hem stitch, Simple hem stitch, Somersault stitch, Stranded cotton, Tied hemstitch, Zigzag hem stitch | |
Herringbone filling stitch | A counted thread stitch. When used in drawn fabric work, it is best worked on the wrong side and when pulled tightly a raised effect is made. Work first from top to bottom making a diagonal stitches downwards over four intersections, insert needle and bring out two horizontal threads below starting point. Continue like this to bottom, then work second row upwards with diagonals in opposite direction. |
| See also closed herringbone stitch, Backstitch, Drawn fabric work | |
Herringbone ladder stitch | A free embroidery stitch, not suitable for an article which will be washed frequently. Work two parallel rows of backstitch with the ends of the stitches in one row level with the middle of the stitches of the other row. With a blunt needle and matching or contrasting thread, interlace top and bottom stitches alternately as shown in diagram. |
| See also Backstitch, Interlaced stitch | |
Herringbone stitch | A free embroidery stitch and a counted thread stitch. In the free embroidery version work from left to right. Bring needle out on lower line. Insert on top edge a little to the right and take a small stitch backwards along top edge. then insert on lower edge a little to right and take another small stitch to the left. The fabric lifted by the needle and the space between the stitches should be the same to achieve best effect. Continue in this way.
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| See also Closed herringbone stitch, Double herringbone stitch, Herringbone ladder stitch, Interlaced herringbone stitch, Threaded herringbone stitch, Tied herringbone stitch | |
Holbein embroidery | A style of counted thread embroidery using double running stitch resulting in a design which looks the same from both sides of the piece. Also known as double running embroidery. |
| See also Double running embroidery, Double running stitch | |
Holbein stitch | A free embroidery stitch. Work a row of running stitches, leaving the same number of threads between stitches as stitch length. then work back with another row of running stitches filling in the gaps left on the first row. |
| See also Double running stitch, Running stitch | |
Hollie-Point stitch | A counted thread stitch The area to be covered is outlined in backstitch with one strand of floss. Bring the needle to the front of the work and lay a thread across the fabric. Work across the laid thread as illustrated and repeat across each row without going through the fabric. |
| See also Holy point stitch, Nun's work, Point lace | |
Holy Point stitch | A counted thread stitch The area to be covered is outlined in backstitch with one strand of floss. Bring the needle to the front of the work and lay a thread across the fabric. Work across the laid thread as illustrated and repeat across each row without going through the fabric. |
| See also Hollie-point, Nun's work, Point lace | |
Honeycomb | A free embroidery filling stitch. Start with squared filling. Fill the area with long horizontal stitches about quarter of an inch apart. Then lay threads in the opposite direction making perfect squares. With a blunt (tapestry) needle and a contrasting thread weave diagonally across the squares picking up the under thread of the foundation row as shown. |
| See also Squared filling | |
Honeycomb filling stitch | A counted thread stitch used in drawn fabric work. Work from top to bottom. Start at top left hand corner and bring thread through. Make a horizontal stitch across four threads to the right then bring out four threads down Insert four threads up and bring out again four threads down. Make a horizontal stitch to left across four threads then bring needle up four threads down. Take needle four threads up and then bring out four threads down. Continue in this way to bottom of row but do not work last stitch of sequence. Turn fabric round and work in same way as first row for second row. Continue. All stitches should be pulled firmly. |
| See also Drawn fabric work | |
Horizontal fishbone stitch | A counted thread stitch A variation on fishbone stitch, this forms a diagonal pattern. The stitches are worked from bottom left to top right with a horizontal stitch over four threads crossed by a vertical over two threads as shown. See also diagonal fishbone stitch. |
| See also Diagonal fishbone stitch, Fishbone stitch | |
Huckaback Darning | A type of pattern darning traditionally worked on Huckaback linen, a towelling fabric with well defined vertical floats in the weave. This is difficult to find now but the patterns can be adapted to suit evenweave fabric. Threads used are usually pearl cottons, stranded cottons and sometimes soft embroidery cottons or wools. The needle picks up the floats rather than pierces the fabric a tapestry needle is used. Patterns are usually geometric in borders or motifs. |
| See also Pattern darning | |
Hungarian stitch | A counted thread stitch. Worked in two colours from left to right, it consists of vertical stitches over two threads, four threads, two threads, miss one and so on. The second row in a different colour having the long stitch over the missing column of the previous row as shown. |
Hungarian stitch variation. | A counted thread stitch. This consists of vertical stitches worked from left to right, over two threads, four threads, six threads, four threads, two threads and so on. The next row is worked with the shortest stitch above the longest of the previous row. |
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