This surface stitch consists of long, almost parallel stitches which anchor the previous stitch from alternate sides.  This results in a filling stitch where the central area is more closely worked than the edges. As its alternative name of long-armed feather stitch suggests, Cretan stitch has structural similarities with feather stitch.

The name suggests that the stitch originated in Crete, and whilst it was certainly used in Cretan embroidery (as indicated by an embroidered skirt from mid-18th century Crete, held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London), there is no evidence to indicate that it originated on the island.  The first evidence of its use is on a piece of 16th century Swiss/south German ecclesiastical embroidery currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio.  More recently, it has been used to decorate garments in Oman.