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Brick and cross filling icon
Brick and cross filling

  • brick and cross filling stitch
Brick and cross filling main image

Brick and cross filling is a geometric surface stitch consisting of squares of satin stitch interspersed with large cross stitches in a chequerboard pattern.  For a similar stitch made up of squares of satin stitch overlaid with large tied cross stitches, see chessboard filling stitch.

This stitch lends itself to large motifs in Jacobean crewelwork.

This stitch first appears in print under this name in Mary Thomas’s 1936 Dictionary of embroidery stitches.

add_circleMy Stitches
Crossed Composite Pattern Open Filling Crewelwork Surface Counted Thread

Brick and cross filling is generously sponsored by Janet Ramsey

Method

In order to make the satin stitch fill a square, the length of your satin stitches should be the same as the width of four satin stitches.

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1
Brick and cross filling method stage 1 illustration
Brick and cross filling method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring your needle up at the top corner and make a horizontal satin stitch.

Satin stitch
2
Brick and cross filling method stage 2 illustration
Brick and cross filling method stage 2 photograph
2

Make three more satin stitches below the first one to form a square.

3
Brick and cross filling method stage 3 illustration
Brick and cross filling method stage 3 photograph
3

Bring your needle up just to the right of your satin stitch square and make a cross stitch.

Cross stitch
4
Brick and cross filling method stage 4 illustration
Brick and cross filling method stage 4 photograph
4

Bring your needle up at the top left of the next square and make four horizontal satin stitches, as before.

5
Brick and cross filling method stage 5 illustration
Brick and cross filling method stage 5 photograph
5

Continue filling alternate squares with satin stitches and cross stitches.

Brick and cross filling

Structure of stitch

Crossed Composite Pattern

Common uses

Open Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Crewelwork Surface Counted Thread

Related Stitches

Chessboard filling stitch Satin stitch Cross stitch

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.15