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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Insertion stitches | Stitching which joins together two finished edges. Before working the stitch tack the two edges onto glazed linen or a strip of smooth paper with just enough space between for the stitches. |
| See also Buttonhole stitch, Faggoting, Knotted insertion stitch, Twisted insertion stitch | |
Interlaced Band | A free embroidery stitch. Make a band of double herringbone using only one colour. Using a tapestry needle and a contrasting colour, weave under and over the upper half of this foundation as shown in the diagram. In this first step, starting at A, the needle goes over, under, over, under, over, under and finally under both the working thread and the foundation. Continuing from B the needle goes over, under, over and under the foundation bars. Continue weaving to the end of the line, turn the corner. Starting from C the needle goes over, under, over, under both the working thread and foundation. |
| See also Double herringbone stitch | |
Interlaced cable chain stitch | A free embroidery stitch variation of chain stitch. Bring needle out at top of stitch line. Hold the thread down with your left thumb while the needle is twisted first under and over the thread. Insert needle into the fabric at B and still holding the thread down, bring it up at C and pull through. |
| See also Chain stitch | |
Interlaced herringbone stitch | A free embroidery stitch. Work a row of herringbone stitch Then lace through it making small horizontal stitches over the crossed part of the herringbone with another colour of thread |
| See also Herringbone stitch, Threaded herringbone stitch | |
Interlaced 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, Herringbone ladder stitch | |
Interlocking Diamond stitch | A counted thread stitch Work the upright diamonds as straight stitches over 4, 6 and 4 threads. The sideways diamonds which interlock with them are worked over 1, 3, 3 and 1 threads. Six diamonds make a six pointed star.. |
Invented Stitch | A free embroidery stitch Based on stem with buttonhole. Work stem stitch, then work a buttonhole loop from left to right, across the stitch, with the needle entering the fabric at the top of the stem stitch, but coming out away from and half way down the length of this stitch. Pull the needle thread upwards to produce the cross. Now take the needle back into the fabric to emerge by the stem stitch for the next one. The spaces between the crosses may be varied, short or long as required. The final result gives a raised, twisted cord like stitch. |
| See also Buttonhole stitch, Stem stitch, Stem with buttonhole stitch | |
Irish stitch | A counted thread stitch worked vertically over up to six stitches in many different combinations using different colours in blending or contrasting ways. The diagram shows one example. |
| See also Bargello stitchflame stitch, Florentine stitch | |
Irregular Algerian Eye Star | A counted thread stitch Worked clockwise from a central point as the numbers show, this is a decorative stitch, useful in hardanger. |
| See also Hardanger | |
Italian cross stitch | A counted thread stitch. Work from right to left. Bring needle out and make a horizontal stitch across three threads, insert needle and bring out again at starting point. Then insert needle diagonally right three intersections up bringing it out again at starting point. Then insert needle three threads vertically above starting point and bring out again at starting point. Finish by working diagonal stitch back across to the head of the vertical stitch and bring out again three threads to left of starting point. |
Italian hem stitch | A counted thread stitch used in drawn thread work or hardanger. Draw out the threads from the fabric in the usual way and then miss the same number of threads and withdraw the same number from above. Working from right to left on the right side bring thread around four border threads to the left on the top band. Pass the needle over and behind the four threads and bring it out again at the starting point. Then take thread over fabric between bands and behind next four threads on lower band. Take needle over four threads and insert then bring out again on top band four threads to the left. Continue along the row. |
| See also Double hem stitch, Drawn thread work, Hardanger, Simple hem stitch | |
Italian Shading | A method of couching gold thread to either give shaping by couching more closely in the darker areas or to produce a pattern on the surface of horizontal rows of gold thread as shown. |
| See also Couching | |
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