CHL Design: Staggered Satin

This is one of those stitches that didn't come out quite like I expected it to from the diagram. I stitched my sample in two colors of pearl cotton, so you could see how the rows slant upward. Get one row in, and all the other rows will follow easily. For convenience, alternating rows are charted in alternating colors (with the compensating stitches shown in red).

This stitch makes a good background worked in a subtle color. It makes great water when worked in an overdyed thread. It makes a great roof. I've seen it worked as the fields in the distance in a pastoral scene, and it worked very well. It compensates very easily so it's great for all sizes of areas. Consider working it in stripes, especially in a Southwest-flavor piece.

The stitches are all over four threads, in groups of three. The diagram shows you some compensating stitches on three of the sides (the red stitches), but don't be confused. All the stitches are over four, unless you run out of room.