When using cross stitch as a fill you can select from any of the cross stitch fill types.
Full cross stitches are made up of two equal-length stitches that cross at the center to form an X. The overall effect of the fill depends on which stitch in the X lies underneath or on top. You can also mix and match for special effects.
A three-quarter stitch is most often created by stitching a quarter stitch followed by a half stitch. A different effect is achieved by stitching the half stitch first and anchoring it with the quarter stitch.
Note The long arm of the three-quarter stitch can go either / or \ directions.
Frequently a quarter stitch and a three-quarter stitch of different colors share a single square. Mix and match their positions to give different effects.
A half stitch is simply a diagonal stitch that looks like / or like \. Half stitches are usually used for shadows and background shading. The stitch can start from any corner. Sometimes two half stitches of different colors are used to make one full cross stitch.
Half cross can go in either direction depending on the effect you want to achieve. For example, half cross used to represent feathers would slant in the direction of the feathers themselves.
Quarter stitches are used to stitch more intricate patterns.
Mini cross stitches are two equal-length stitches that cross at the center to form an X but they only fill quarter of the square. Use mini cross stitch for details such as eyes or for a denser look in parts of your design.
Upright cross stitches are comprised of a vertical and horizontal stitch.
The stitches can be worked diagonally across the canvas, or in a horizontal or vertical line.
Double cross stitch is two full cross stitches stitched at 90º on top of each other. A double cross stitch resembles a star. It is generally used in a scattered fashion or worked into a row to form a decorative border.
Typically the top thread of the bottom cross is the stitch which lies at 135º to the horizontal; and the top thread of the overlapping cross is the horizontal stitch.
Elongated cross stitch consists of two equal-length stitches that cross to form an X. There are two types:
elongated horizontal cross stitch
elongated vertical cross stitch.
Elongated horizontal cross stitches are only half the height of normal cross stitch and elongated vertical cross stitches are only half the width of normal cross stitch.
French knots were originally a hand-stitch used to create a raised look for embellishment. They were traditionally used in ‘whitework’ with very exclusive cotton and fine silk threads.
French knots can be used in combination with other cross-stitch types. Use them for eyes, door knobs, dots for flower pistils, or in place of beads used in hand-work designs – e.g. ornaments on a Christmas tree or to dot letters such as ‘i’. Use them as an outline border. Try them with colorful metallic or variegated threads. French knots are better sewn in larger grids.
