Stitch Tutorial – Hands Across The Sea Samplers

Double running stitch is also known as Holbein stitch or Roumanian and Chiara stitch. It is a simple stitch that is identical on both sides of the fabric and can be worked in straight, curved or zig zag lines in traditional European embroidery and cross stitch, blackwork from Spain or Assisi work from Italy.

It can be used effectively as a delicate outline stitch or as a filling stitch to create complex goemetric patterns.

Double running stitch is worked in two journeys. On the outward journey you mark out the design and on the return trip you fill in the empty spaces.

The stitch can be worked either by placing the stitch made on the return journey above and below the outward stitch. This replicates the natural twist of the thread.

or by splitting the outward stitch with the stitch made on the return journey

Here we see the outward journey followed by both methods on the return trip.

Start the stitch with a waste knot and when both journeys have been completed work both ends of the threads into the reverse of stitches laid. A sharp neeedle enables you to pierce the threads to give a professional and reversible finish.

Have fun with this useful little stitch, experiment with different coloured threads and shapes to create exciting designs.

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.

Hands Across The Sea Samplers

Fine Reproduction Samplers and Needlework

Tag: Stitch Tutorial

Double Running Stitch – a basic and reversible stitch explored

Perfecting the Satin Stitch