The working detail A, Fig. [296], indicates the spot for the thread to enter the stuff, and the position of the needle for the first and second stitches; B, the first two stitches completed, with an auxiliary stitch to the right, the thread drawn out on the right, and the position of the needle for the fifth stitch that completes the cross; G shows the completion of the stitch begun at B and the position of the needle for a second stitch to the right; D, one cross stitch completed and another begun, immediately beneath A. In fig. [297], E shows how to work stitches to the left; F, an auxiliary stitch to reach an isolated cross stitch on the right, G, auxiliary stitches between two isolated cross stitches, and H, a second and last auxiliary stitch to complete the cross.
Fig. 297. Two-sided marking stitch. Different positions of the needle.
It requires both practice and care to do this two-sided marking stitch, so as not to disfigure the stuff by superfluous stitches.
Cross stitch forming a square at the back (figs. [298] and [299]).—Many of the alphabets we so admire in old samplers are worked in cross stitch, that forms a square at the back. Each stitch has to be finished off before another is begun; if you carefully examine figs. [298] and [299], which show severally the right and the wrong sides of the stitch, you will find no difficulty in mastering it. Letter A, fig. [296], shows the entrance of the thread, the position of the needle for half the cross stitch on the right side, and the second side of the square at the back, as shown in fig. [299], A. Letter B, fig. [298], shows the cross stitch finished, and the position of the needle for the third side of the square on the wrong side, indicated by the same letter in fig. [299]. C, in both figures, indicates a stitch which is double on the right side, and on the wrong side forms the fourth side of the square, whilst letter D, explains how to continue the stitches.
Fig. 298. Right side of the cross stitch, forming a square at the back.