Fig. 5.
Quite a pretty and uncommon variety (Fig. 5) is useful for the filling of leaf forms, as well as for borders. The stitch appears to be made up of two long outer and two short inner ones, but as will be seen by looking carefully at the diagram, there are only two movements. It is worked just as in Fig. 4, from left to right. It is very easily worked on loosely-woven material, but where the texture is close, it is simpler and safer to mark four lines on the material for guidance, two outer and two inner, the latter closer together.
To work Fig. 5.—Begin to work from one of the central lines—the one to the right; insert the needle on the left outer line and bring it out on the left inner line, keeping the working thread under the needle; continue in this way, working vertically and keeping the stitches regular and equally spaced. The outside stitches may be made still longer and closer than those in the diagram with good effects, particularly when used for a filling for petals and leaves.
Cretan Stitch.—A still more pleasing variety, known as Cretan stitch and frequently seen on Cretan or Eastern embroideries, is worked similarly in horizontal lines, but the outer and longer stitches are small, straight and closely worked together, so that it makes an excellent solid border stitch, which looks very handsome when worked in metal threads.
To work Cretan or Oriental Stitch.—Draw four lines on the material; start as in Fig. 5, on the right inner line; insert the needle on the left outer line, and bring it out on the left inner one with the thread under the needle; take a stitch on the right outer line; bring it out on the left inner line with the thread under the needle; continue alternately from left to right, taking care to keep the stitches exactly below each other. The appearance of the line can be slightly varied by increasing or decreasing the outer stitches. The inner plaiting is regulated by the size of the stitches taken on the outer edges. See [Plate I]., where the solid blue line enclosed within the chequered chain-stitched lines is worked in this way. The lines on either side of the runner show the stitch worked more openly.
Fig. 6.
Link Stitch (Fig. 6).—This is rather an unusual stitch, being formed of links connected by short stitches. To be effective, it should be worked with thick twisted thread. It is easily done on a ground where the warp and weft threads are sufficiently open to guide the worker, otherwise two lines parallel should be marked from a quarter to half an inch apart.
Fig. 6a.