Here at Sunday Stitch School, the geography lessons could go on forever, with all geographical names there are. Today we are moving Northwest from Rumania into Hungary with the Hungarian Stitch, which I found in Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches.
It is used for Canvas Work and fills an area beautifully.
Now I wonder why it is called Hungarian Stitch. Most examples of embroidery from Hungary show very colourful, Satin Stitched floral designs.
Furthermore, today's stitch looks nothing like Hungarian Braid Stitch, a beautiful braid based on the Chain Stitch.
Instead it is similar to Hungary Stitch, which is also known as Bargello Stitch/Florentine Stitch (among other names). These stitches have an undulating flame-like pattern and can be seen on the borders of some Hungarian work. Is it from these borders the stitch has got its name?
Many questions the teacher can't answer today! Can the students?
Mattia tells me its French names are either
point hongrois or point de Hongrie.
Anyway, let's get down to stitching.
Work Hungarian Stitch like this:
After 3 vertical Straight Stitches, jump one space and continue.
Make a similar row in a contrasting colour.
Repeat row after row.
On my Aida sampler.
Homework:
Fill a square on this 'fake' canvas.
