Adjoining stitches of the same color may
be worked in rows until the color area is completed. Rows
are usually worked, starting from left-to-right, from
top of fabric in rows to bottom. A half cross-stitch is
made for the length of the row to be worked. Then the
full cross of the stitch is made in the opposite direction
until the return row is completed (See diagram B)
Half
or Three-Quarter Cross-stitch
This stitch is used to give the finished design a smoother
outline. The stitch can be made in either direction (an
exception to the "all finished top stitches should lie
in the same direction" rule) and can be recognized on
the chart by a diagonal line intersecting a square with
a color symbol to one side of it (See diagram C). The
stitch actually fills in three-fourths of the stitched
square of fabric. It is worked by bringing the threaded
needle up at 1, down at 2, up at 3 and down at 4. The
quarter stitch is made on the side of the diagonal line
which shows the color symbol. It is stitched first with
the longer stitch made in the direction of the diagonal
line to cover the center end of the quarter-stitch (See
diagram D).
When
two colors meet within a design the diagonal line on the
chart will have a different color symbol on both sides
(See diagram E). The stitched area is worked with a three-quarter
stitch in one color and a quarter-stitch of the other
color to form a full stitch. When color adjoin each other
in this way they usually form a diagonal line across two
or more rows of stitching. Be sure that all of the three-quarter
stitches are worked in the same color and that all the
quarter-stitches are worked in the other along the same
diagonal line (See diagram F). As the rows are worked
from top to bottom, many times it will be the first color
worked that will command the three-quarter stitch.
Backstitch
This
stitch is used to outline the perimeter of a design area
or to identify areas or specific designs within the worked
area. It is done after all the counted cross-stitch has
been completed. If a color for this stitching has not
been indicated you can use the darkest tone of a color
included on the color key to backstitch a like color area.
For example, a leaf would be backstitched in the darkest
green indicated for the leaf; a flower in the darkest
shade used in the flower, etc. A medium-dark, neutral
grey or brown may be used throughout the design. Black,
unless indicated, is often too harsh for a design. Deciding
what color to use is a matter of personal taste. Use one
ply of the six-ply embroidery floss for backstitching.
For designs that need a bolder outline use one less strand
than was used to stitch the design.
To
backstitch, bring the threaded needle up at 1, down at
2, up at 3, down at 2, up at 4, down at 3, etc. (See diagram
G). Take care not to snag threads already worked.
