Feather-stitch is not adapted to covering broad surfaces solidly, but may be used for narrow ones.

Oriental-stitch is the name given to a close kind of feather-stitch much used in Eastern work. The difference at once apparent to the eye between the two is that, whereas for the mid-rib of a band or leaf of feather-stitching ([25]) you have cross lines, in Oriental-stitch ([27]) you have a straight line—longer or shorter as the case may be.

Oriental-stitch, sometimes called "Antique-stitch," is a stitch in three strokes, just as feather-stitch is a stitch in four. It is usually worked horizontally, though shown upright on the sampler, Illustration [27]. Like feather-stitch (see diagram), it is worked on four guiding lines, faintly visible on the sampler.

to work A, B, C.

Stitches A, B, and C are worked in precisely the same way. Bring your needle out at the top of line 1. Keep the thread under your thumb to the right and put your needle in at the top of line 4, bringing it out into line 3 on the same level. Then put it in again at line 2, just on the other side of the thread, and bring it out on line 1 ready to begin the next stitch.

[larger image]

27. ORIENTAL-STITCH SAMPLER.