Also
known as the arrowhead stitch or the two-sided cross stitch, this stitch gives
a dense surface with close texture. It is traditionally associated with Assisi
embroidery, where it is used as the background. Notice that each cross has two
sides -- but when you stitch an area with it, all sides of the cross are
surrounded with a stitch. It was traditionally stitched on linens, and can be
stitched to be reversible. However, there is no need to do that in
needlepoint! Anyone looking at the back of your work is too close!
Your diagram is shown with stitches over two, but they can easily be over a larger number. In my sample, I did a swatch of over-two using pink and blue pearl cotton, and then I did a swatch of over-four using red and blue pearl cotton.
| Single Stitch Unit | Block of Stitches |
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