The Satin Stitch can be used to great effect in counted thread work when grouped together side by side as a filling stitch

There are many geometric designs but for this tutorial we will look at a small diamond shape.

The diagram above is how the shape would be shown on a chart when each square represents two threads.

The diagram below shows the shape when each square represents one thread. We will need 11 stitches to create the shape and cover all the threads of the linen.

Start with either a waste knot or pin stitch with one thread.

Start at 1 and not the left hand side tip of the diamond shape which has be marked with “0”.  End on the 11th stitch as again there is no stitch at the right hand side diamond tip.

For better coverage stitch back from right to left.

Your satin stitch should be smooth and the fabric well covered. If it is not you can make another pass back through the shape.

End by burying the thread under the stitches on the back of your fabric. Done neatly this stitch is reversible.

Sometimes we need to cover a slub in the linen which causes a gaping in our stitch.

We can do this by laying a diagonal stitch on the first pass through the shape after the 3rd stitch then going back to work the 4th.

When you make the return pass from right to left  the diagonal stitch and the slub will be covered.

We hope that you enjoyed this short tutorial.