About RSN Stitch Bank
brickwork and mortar stitch
This stitch was developed by Owen Davies, a tutor and former apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework, for his signature knot gardens. It was published in his book Embroidered Knot Gardens using three-dimensional stumpwork, canvas work and ribbonwork. This counted thread stitch consists of horizontal and vertical stitches which combine to replicate bricks and mortar. It originally features in print as two separate stitches but as they were designed to be used in combination, we have combined them into a single entry.
Brickwork and mortar stitch is generously sponsored in loving memory of Owen Davies by his friends and colleagues at the RSN.
Method
Choose 12 or more shades of stranded cotton to work with.
Thread up some large eyed tapestry needles with different proportions of colour combinations. In the example 8 strands are used on an 18TPI canvas.
Work a horizontal stitch over 6 canvas threads and pull it through so that the stranded cotton sits tight on the top of the canvas.
Work a second parallel stitch immediately below. This completes the first brick.
Working horizontally, one vertical thread of the canvas will be left bare between each horizontal brick. Remember to mingle different shades of bricks.
Working vertically, two horizontal threads of the canvas will be left bare between each horizontal brick.
The bricks should also be offset from the brick above and below.
Fill the space with brickwork
For the mortar, thread large eyed sharp needles with blends of lighter shaded stranded cottons (in this example 4 strands were used). Stitch vertical parallel pairs over three horizontal threads of the canvas disguising the ends of each brick.
Work a long simple split stitch horizontally between each layer of bricks. Each stitch can be over any number of canvas threads up to a maximum of 17. Make sure the stranded cotton covers the top and bottom of the vertical mortar stitches and does not share the same canvas hole.
brickwork and mortar stitch
Embroidery Techniques
Identifying brickwork and mortar stitch
This stitch can be identified by the long parallel stitches of the bricks and the short vertical ones of the mortar. Unusually for a canvaswork stitch, the horizontal lines of mortar are worked in a split stitch.