Help with really vague technique question

Would it be a Rhodes Stitch? I have made Rhodes Hearts and squares and star bursts and circles and spirals. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Tia Mary said

That's the nature of the beast. Doing opposing arms of the stitch instead of working around the stitch in a counter-clockwise (or clockwise if you prefer) manner, would lessen the effect, but then it would no longer be a Rhodes stitch. The very rough diagram following is basically a double cross-stitch, but that is the idea. Presumably you are using a much larger version of the stitch--which is why the center spirals for you. Simply expand what is shown below. Alternating stitch directions will prevent the spiral effect although the center will still be quite bulky.

The original description sounded like a Rhodes Heart. There are several variations of the Rhodes stitch. Here's a link to a Rhodes Heart diagram. If you go back to the "stitch of the month" page, there are a few other Rhode's variants.

ellice said

First thing is NOT to make a very big circle -- LOL! Second, I have been known to use very fine clear nylon sewing thread to take a teensy little stitch over top of the center bunching of threads about midway through the stitch -- and not do it very tightly either. You have to be VERY careful when doing this so that it's not obvious. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

OOOO -- I've SEEN the angels but never done one. Have you stitched any of them yet? I would have to pay REALLY close attention to make sure I didn't get my count out of whack. I do that with the hearts all the time and they aren't all that difficult. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

And butterflies

Stitched both around the same time frame, do I had the dang things coming out my ears. Tara

Oh, nice.

I guess any symmetrical, design could probably be charted. Snowmen, bees(double, one colour for body, second over top for wings), lighthouses, any gemstone shape, etc.

Tara

I lied :-) It was 1997, and I know, it's Driskell.

Tara

That's right -- I had forgotten about butterflies. I did them on one of the SMDGDs birth samplers and they are quite lovely. Thanks for reminding me of them :-)! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at