A comprehensive illustrated glossary of cross stitch, embroidery and needlework. Clear definitions and working diagrams. Includes cross stitch, embroidery, tapestry, blackwork, and goldwork.
Click thumbnails to enlarge.
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
Waffle stitch | A counted thread stitch. Work three diagonal stitches over 3, 4, and 3 stitches in one direction followed by three stitches in the opposite direction also over 3, 4 and 3 intersections. This can be worked in one colour or two as shown. Also known as broad cross stitch.
|
| See also Broad cross stitch, Norwich stitch | |
Walneto | A counted thread stitch This is used as a feature stitch. Work the basic grid with four long stitches as illustrated and then continue following the numbers each stitch passes under the intersection at one of the four corners but without passing through the fabric thus bending the thread. The finished worked stitch is as shown. |
Waste canvas | A non-interlocked canvas which is used to work cross stitch on non-evenweave fabric or ready made items. It is specially made so that it can be frayed and removed after the cross stitch is worked. |
| See also Canvas, Cross stitch | |
Wave stitch | A free embroidery stitch. Make a row of straight stitches along the top of the shape to be covered, coming up at A, down at B and so on. Using a blunt (tapestry) needle come out at C, slide the thread through the first stitch of the row and then insert the needle again at D, on the same line as C and then out again very close at E and slide through the next stitch in the line and so until the end of the second row. On the next row come out at F and slide the needle through one stitch as before but the following stitches all slide through two loops of the row above as shown until the end of the row when the needle passes through only one, the last stitch. Continue building up rows in this way until the shape is filled. Also a stitch used in smocking. This is a decorative stitch worked after the pleats have been gathered and basic smocking stitches such as outline stitch have been worked. |
| See also Cable stitch, Outline stitch, Smocking | |
Wave stitch filling | A counted thread stitch used in drawn fabric work. Work from right to left. Bring needle up two threads in from end. Make first stitch two threads to the right and four threads up then bring needle out again four threads to the left. Insert needle at starting point and bring out four threads to the left. Continue in this way to the end of the row. To work next row turn fabric round then work in the same way as before. |
| See also Drawn fabric work | |
Weaving stitch | A free embroidery filling stitch. Come out and A and insert needle again at B coming up again adjacent at C leaving a thread width between lines as shown. Change to a blunt (tapestry) needle and contrasting colour come up at M at the centre of the square to be covered, weave as shown and then insert needle again at N. Come out again at O and continue weaving in that direction, pushing threads together so that even squares of colour are obtained. When that side is complete start at the centre again and weave in the opposite direction. |
Web stitch | A counted thread stitch. Bring the needle out at A and insert at B making a tent stitch over one thread of the fabric. Come out at C, one thread above and one to the left of B. Insert the needle again at D, one stitch below and one to the right of B, making a long slanting stitch over two intersections. Come out again at E, one thread immediately above B, Insert the needle at F making a small stitch across the slanting one and come out again at G on the other side of the stitch, one thread below and one to the right of E. Insert the needle at H, over the stitch, one thread to the left and one below G. Come out again at J. Then make another long slanting stitch, starting one stitch above C and ending one stitch to the right of D over three intersections. Work all the way back by the same method as before, placing slanting stitches across the line alternating with those of the previous row. |
Wheat stitch | A stitch used in smocking. After the temporary stitches have been worked, this basic smocking stitch is worked around the tacking threads. 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, work a row of outline stitch and then keeping the thread below the needle work a row of stem stitch directly beneath. |
| See also Outline stitch, Smocking, Stem stitch | |
Wheat stitch Counted | A counted thread stitch. A decorative stitch that can be worked in one colour or with a contrasting thread used for the short binding stitch. |
Wheatear Stitch | A free embroidery stitch. Work from top to bottom. Bring thread through on stitch line just below top. Make a diagonal straight stitch to left and another to right, bring needle through again below staring point. Without needle entering fabric take thread under the two straight stitches and insert at same place as before. Then make two more straight stitches and work along stitch line in this way. |
Whipped backstitch | A free embroidery stitch. Having worked a line of backstitch, bring needle out at same place as one stitch then take thread over and under each backstitch without entering fabric. |
| See also Backstitch | |
Whipped Chain stitch | A counted thread or free embroidery stitch. Make a row of chain stitch. Then changing to a blunt (tapestry) needle, bring it out and A cross to the right and slide the needle through the two loops from B to C without entering the fabric. Continue under each link being careful not to pull the thread too tight. As a counted thread stitch, make a row of chain stitch. Then using a thread in a contracting colour, bring it up through the fabric beside the thread and a the top of the first chain. Bring the needle diagonally across the first chain and pass the needle under the loop of the second chain. Repeat this movement, not piercing the fabric until all the chain stitches have been worked over. The loops can be pulled tight to make a narrow raised cord effect or less tightly depending on the effect required. |
| See also Chain stitch | |
Whipped satin stitch | A counted thread stitch used in drawn fabric work. Work satin stitch but pull each stitch tight. Work whipping stitches at right angles as shown in diagram. |
| See also Drawn fabric work, Satin stitch | |
Whipped stem stitch | A free embroidery stitch. First work a line of stem stitch then coming up at A, change to a blunt (tapestry) needle and pass from B to C where stem stitches overlap each other, passing only under the stitch and not through the fabric. Continue to end to give the effect of a raised cord. |
| See also Stem stitch | |
Whitework | Free embroidery, traditionally worked with white thread on white fabric. It`s based on satin stitch worked on closely woven materials such as linen, lawn or cambric. |
| See also Chain stitch, Mountmellick, Padded satin stitch, Point de paris, Point turc, Seeding, Shadow appliqué, Shadow stitch, Trailing stitch | |
Wickerwork Stitch | A counted thread stitch. Work upright crosses each over two threads first, working backwards and forwards across the canvas. |
| See also Upright cross stitch | |
Wide gobelin stitch | A counted thread stitch. 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. |
| See also Needlepoint, Oblique gobelin stitch, Tramming | |
Woven Bars | A stitch used in hardanger or drawn thread work to cover groups of single threads after the threads have been drawn in the opposite direction. cording is a simpler form of this stitch and the stitching can be further embellished with picots. |
| See also woven bars with picot, Cording, Drawn thread work, Hardanger | |
Woven Bars with Picot | A more complicated version of woven bars used in hardanger or drawn thread work to decorate the single threads after threads have been drawn in the opposite direction. |
| See also Drawn thread work, Hardanger, Woven bars | |
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