This is one of my
favorite background stitches. As you can see I tried it in several threads here
for different effects. I like it because it fills up all the holes, but has only
half the stitches. I like to fill up the holes because you do not have to worry
about dragging your thread across an open hole. It works well around shapes, so
it is great for small areas or for backgrounds. The canvas is definitely
exposed, but if you choose the right thread, it is not even noticeable. For
example, work a background in this stitch in #8 pearl cotton on white canvas.
You will not even realize the white canvas threads are showing through; it looks
like a woven fabric. White or 032 pearl or 195 rainbow white #8 Kreinik
metallics work well on white canvas also. Try to match the thread you are
stitching with to the size of the threads of the canvas you are stitching on.
Change the look of the stitch by changing the size of the threads the look gets
lacier as you use finer thread. For a wash of color, use a different color
thread from the canvas color. On a painted canvas with detailed shading, use a
transparent thread and this stitch and let the shading show through.
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