Sunday 24 July 2022

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 219: Two-sided Italian Cross Stitch

 Are you already familiar with the Royal School Of Needlework's new stitch bank?

Today's stitch was found there, and it is a good idea to look at the illustrations, the photo tutorial and the video to see how useful this website is.

You will find all about Two-sided Italian Cross Stitch here. There are actually two methods. Why not try both and pick the one you find easiest.

This beautiful canvas stitch is also listed in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.

Here is my photo tutorial:






This is the first part of the stitch. Now work the second stitch in the same way.




When you reach the end of the stitching line, make one more upright Straight Stitch.


As you can see each cross is flanked by a Straight Stitch on either side, hence the name Two-sided Italian Cross, but there is actually a Straight Stitch at the bottom, too.

Let the thread travel on the back of the canvas behind the stitches and start a new row below the first stitch.



This way you actually have the cross totally enclosed in a square. Maybe the name ought to be Boxed-In Italian Cross!

Homework: 

As this is a canvas stitch, add it to the canvas sampler. Add it also to these samplers.




5 comments:

Pamela said...

I like this one. It is very neat and orderly.

Rachel said...

It does create a nice neat pattern, doesn't it!

Annet said...

This is a nice filling stitch, but I think it eats a lot of thread!

Janie said...

Thanks for the tutorial on Two Sided Italian Cross Stitch. Very efficient use of movement and thread, I think.

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

It's a good filling stitch.