Stitch Question

Is this the same as the Holbein stitch?

it is, the purpose is to make a smoother line than with regular backstitch. If you pierce the threads as you come back with the running stitch, the stitches blend into one another, like so: _____ and don't have the -.-.-.-.-.- look of regular backstitch. I poo-poohed the distinction for a long time until I actually tried it and saw that it's just... well, better. More aesthetically pleasing.

Hi,

No, it is not the Holbein stitch and I've had no luck in finding a web site that describes this alternating back stitch.

The written directions from my kit are "come up at A, go down at B. Come up at C, then go down at D (same hole as B). Work E-F, G-H, etc.

mag

I actually had to draw that out to figure out what it meant and I'm still not sure it's right.

Does the finished line look the same as any regular backstitched line?

I've seen that - let me think on it C

That's it - I've seen that someplace, don¹t have the energy to pull out anything to look at it.

Cheryl

I would be interested in knowing if there's any actual REASON to do it that way or if that's just a designer's quirk.

Dianne? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Well, it does to me. What seems to me to be is a running stitch followed by a back stitch followed by a running stitch, etc.

Again, it's purpose/use eludes me.

mag

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:25:03 GMT, "Mag" wrote: X-No-Archive Yes

I am not sure about the pattern you are talking about but it sounds like a backstitch which is done that way (in Blackwork) so that the line it creates is a much smoother, truer line than just the regular backstitch.

On a sample cloth do a line of regular then do a line by this method underneath and you should see the difference it gives.

It is used in spots where the under side thread may show through. It allows the stitcher to turn sharp corners and/or to use an overdyed thread in Blackwork. In regular backstitch the under thread would cut diagonally. In blackwork the Holbein Stitch also turns sharp corners, but you cannot journey back with an overdyed thread as nicely.

It is also know as Alternating Running Backstitch". HTH Bobbie V.

Ah ha !! That makes sense!

Thank you

mag

You are very welcome. Bobbie V.

You don't say what sort of needlework you're doing that requires this stitch. It sounds to me like the Japanese running stitch - one stitch forward, next stitch back. This provides a slightly firmer line of stitches than simple running stitch if you're "drawing" an edge line for a foundation layer. In crewel work, a line of split stitch serves the same purpose. If you're doing this on an even weave fabric, I can't imagine why this stitch would be used. Ordinary back stitch, or Holbein stitch, would surely be better, depending on whether you prefer the slightly bumpy line of back stitch or the smooth line of Holbein stitch, as explained above.

John

My attempt to respond to this a while ago seems to have failed. (Apologies to the group if both of my messages eventually appear.)

This is Japanese running stitch - one stitch forward and one stitch back. It makes a slightly firmer line than regular running stitch when you're setting the edge of what will be a stitched foundation layer. In crewel work, the line of split stitch that you then stitch over serves much the same purpose. Mag doesn't say what sort of needlework she's doing, so it's hard to know if this stitch is really useful or not. If it's back stitch used to outline cross stitch on an even weave fabric, then this "alternating" back stitch would seem to serve no use whatever.

John

Hi John,

Both your messages appeared on my pc this evening, 7/18. Thanks for your feedback! I often forget just how diverse this group really is.

I was working on a small Dimensions kit - cross stitch on a plastic even weave - called Dragonfly Fantasy. Hopefully you can see a pic of it on this link if you like. I ended up just doing a normal back stitch as figuring out the one-forward- one-back became trying on the dragonfly's wings.

I know the kit and recall the stitch now - you do the backstitching that way so you don¹t cut the stitches when trimming it. Other then the "outside", it don't matter.

So of those are quite sweet.

Cheryl

I did this one, the butterfly, pansy & autumn leaf a couple years ago. Either they've changed the directions or I missed this stitch and just did a regular double running stitch. I also stitched over the edges of the plastic after cutting it out. I think you can see it on my webshots stitchery page:

'd also suggest what I did with the dragonfly.....add blendingfilament to the wings. Looks really good! :) Joan

Hi Joan,

Thank you for the link to the pic - I now wish I had finished off the edges as you have. It makes a lovely difference!! However, I'm done and it's on the wall. But, I have other kits of the like and will do that next time.

I also did the dragonfly alone using different DMC specialty threads. You can see it if you like at the link below.

I had great fun looking through your work - it's ALL so lovely!!!

Mag

That looks really cool! Did you use Light Effects on the greenish areas?

Joan

Yes - all of the second dragonfly was done in Light Effects. Some of them are not that easy to work with but I do like the results. The LE Fluorescent colors, however, are easy to work with and those were the green and yellow.

mag