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Festoon filling stitch icon
Festoon filling stitch

This pulled thread stitch forms a pattern which resembles a garland (hence the name, as a festoon is something which is hung in a curve). It is worked entirely in back stitch from right to left.

The name ‘festoon’ features in many stitch names: the Italian punto a festone is known as buttonhole stitch in English, although it literally translates as festoon stitch; the French point de feston is an alternative name for single Brussels stitch.

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Pulled Embellishment Open Filling Pulled Thread Whitework

Generously sponsored by Catherine Reavy in memory of Beatrice Monk

Method

Each stitch should be pulled tightly as it is worked to emphasise the pattern of regular wavy scalloped rows.

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Festoon filling stitch method stage 1 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up at the top right of the shape to be filled, two fabric threads from the edge.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 2 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Take down the needle two threads to the right.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 3 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Pull tight.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 4 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Bring the needle up again two threads to the left and two threads down.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 5 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Insert the needle where it first emerged.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 6 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Bring the needle up two threads to the left and four threads down, and insert where the previous stitch emerged.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 7 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Bring the needle up two threads to the left, and work a back stitch.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 8 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

Bring the needle up two threads to the left and two threads up to start making a scallop shape.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 9 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 9 photograph
9

Bring the needle up two threads up and work a back stitch.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 10 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 10 photograph
10

Continue working back stitches following the festoon outline as shown in the diagram to form a garland pattern.

Festoon filling stitch method stage 11 illustration
Festoon filling stitch method stage 11 photograph
11

Work until the pattern reaches to the other side of the edge. The second row should be spaced six fabric threads below the first row. Continue in this way to fill the area.

Festoon filling stitch

Structure of stitch

Pulled

Common uses

Embellishment Open Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Pulled Thread Whitework

Related Stitches

Back stitch

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.96–7
  • Kate Haxell, The Stitch Bible (2012)