Sunday 18 December 2016

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 6: Four Sided Stitch

Should I close school for a winter holiday? Nay, I want to go on, so here is a fast and easy stitch from the Pulled Thread category, the Four Sided Stitch. It is not new to me, still I wanted to dedicate a lesson to it.

Mum made this table runner when I was little and I remember it from that time.

 I used the Four Sided Stitch on a small quilt, a wall hanging, some years ago
With variegated thread it is never a dull stitch, and it is surprisingly easy to work even on even weave fabric.


It is made like this:


It looks like this on Aida:


English name: Four Sided Stitch
Swedish name: Myrgång or Kvadratsöm

It is often found in Scandinavian embroidery like Hardanger and Hedebo, but it features in many of my books, so I would say it is an international stitch:

Homework:
Stitch a border of Four Sided Stitches on this wine red even weave household linen (actually polyester). Try to be creative!

23 comments:

Pamela said...

I like the four sided stitch and used it on my recently completed heart ornament.

FlashinScissors said...

Four sided stitch looks tricky to me, but you make it sound easy! I will try to have a go .... hopefully this week.
Barbara xx

Queeniepatch said...

Hardanger and Four Sided Stitch join belong to each other!

Queeniepatch said...

If you stitch on Aida it is easy peasy, you will soon find the rhythm and enjoy the speed. Try it out!

chitra said...

when you explain the steps, this stitch seems easy. I'll try after returning to Muscat.
Chitra

carorose said...

I love this stitch. I found it when I was 15 y.o. It was the background in an embroidery I had designed for my senior project at school. It was winter in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney (Australia) and it snowed. I sat in front of the fire and stitched. Amazing the memories a stitch can bring up!

crazyQstitcher said...

Oh Joy! something small to force me to learn Pulled stitch, which I keep putting off, thinking it is harder than it looks.
Thank you Carin.

margaret said...

love the 4 sided stitch and you have shared a great tutorial for those new to it

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

You always have an interesting post. I apologize for not commenting here more, if I ever have. I was first attracted to your blog by your ID photo. Yesterday I looked back through your blog to find out more about it, since I was sure you must have stitched more faces. Thankfully I found previous posts done some time ago and a mention of Fay Maxwell. I hunted her down and ordered her book yesterday. Thank you for sharing your stitching and being a blogger.
Merry Christmas.
xx, Carol

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Oh, I live in Northern Indiana USA where the temp this morning is now -13 with a wind chill of -25. Hope you are warmer than I am!

Anonymous said...

Bonjour, merci pour ce nouveau point que je n'ai encore jamais utilisé. J'ai trouvé 2 noms en français :
- Point quadrillé ou point quadrillé ajouré
- Point à 4 côtés
Bon Noël à toutes
Mattia

https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com said...

I think I have done this stitch before but I may well use it again.

Janie said...

Very nice work. It's always fun to learn about another stitch and see what you've done with it!

Queeniepatch said...

Once you get going, the stitch is easy.

Queeniepatch said...

Yes, I bet you are a Four Sided Stitch Veteran! Hood to hear it evokes a lot of memories.

Queeniepatch said...

It is an amazingly easy stitch, do give it a try. To spare your eyes, though, may I recommend you work on Aida.

Queeniepatch said...

It is really easy to stitch, you should know with all your Hardanger expertise.

Queeniepatch said...

I had to visit your blog, and do remember that you have commented before. If you want to see more stumpwork portraits look at the tab at the top labeled Stumpwork Portraits.
Fay Maxwell's method is easy and fun. Do enjoy the book.

Queeniepatch said...

It is considerably warmer in Tokyo, especially this year.

Queeniepatch said...

it is an easy stitch for background and can be used in a'rough' way.

Queeniepatch said...

Surely you have used this stitch, with all the experience you have.

crazyQstitcher said...

Thanks for the Aida tip. I'll try it.

Anonymous said...

Your quilt is gorgeous and such an unusual shape!