These upright stitches are in groups of two, worked over four threads of the material; each row is separated from the other by two strands of the material.
To Work Fig. J.—Unfortunately the Fig. J does not show this filling to advantage. When the pattern is worked it will be seen that the intervening strands, in conjunction with the open spaces, form tiny little crosses, which add transparency to the work.
A filling more tedious to work, but with a more open appearance, is got by overcasting every stitch on the advancing row, and on the return row working the upper part of each stitch into the lower space of the row above, thus leaving no strands between the stitches or rows.
Vandyke Border, Fig. G.—This pointed pattern, worked in a single row, makes a good finish for a border or hem.
To work as Fig. G, each group requires seven stitches to form it, the shortest covering four threads and the longest twelve; the last stitch of each group forms the first of the next one.
Pyramid Filling.—The size of the groups may vary; large and small vandykes may alternate. Another filling somewhat similar may be made by taking the stitches horizontally instead of vertically; in this way groups of little pyramids are formed. Each row should be worked with alternating pyramids. The simplest method is to begin at the top with a short stitch over two threads, work five more horizontal stitches, increasing in width, right and left, by one thread, so that the sixth stitch covers twelve threads of the material. Work in oblique rows.
Strips of vandyke pattern may be worked over large backgrounds with good effect. Make five horizontal stitches over five strands of canvas, each stitch being below the other, but one thread to the right of the last; then work four stitches beneath these, each stitch being this time one thread to the left of the one above it; continue for length required. Start the second row on a level with the first and six or seven strands to the right of it.
Fig. B, Arrow-head Filling.—This is a useful stitch for covering the ground quickly. The three stitches are here formed over six vertical and ten horizontal threads, but, of course, the number must always depend upon the quality of the material. The vertical stitch is worked first, then the left slanting stitch, followed by the right. In working with loosely woven cloth, it is necessary to carry the working thread up behind the material to the top to start each stitch. This uses rather more thread, but the stitches lie better and the work is not puckered.
Fig. F, Star Filling.—Here, a number of stars are worked in successive rows. To make them quite regular, each one should be begun at the same point. In the Fig. F they are worked over sixteen strands: start at the top left corner with a double stitch, then make the horizontal stitch below, and so on till complete. By tightening the working thread a little a hole is formed at each corner, and in the centre of each star, which makes the pattern an open one, provided the working thread is not too thick, in which case it would fill up the hole.
An equally good background for a firmer material is to work stars in two rows, diagonally, one up, one down, leaving always an equal number of strands between each star. In this way the material itself is formed into little diamond-shaped panels or lozenges.