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Granito

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Granito main image

This surface stitch consists of multiple satin stitches, all worked into the same hole which gives a small, very padded dot.

Granitos originate within Madeiran embroidery where they are traditionally worked in white thread on white fabric.  The source of the name is unclear: granito translates as granite in Portuguese; it is possible that the name originated in a Spanish speaking region where it can mean ‘small grain’.

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Isolated Raised Circular Powdered filling Embellishment Surface Madeira

Jennifer Freestone in memory of my daughter Seirian Hanner

Stitch supporters: Ann Kingdom. Miriam Kahn.

Method

Granitos are often used to depict flower petals or they can be worked as a powdered filling.

Use a mellor or tapestry needle to guide your thread so it lies in the desired position.

The number of stitches governs how raised the stitch will be, the most padded versions can have as many as eleven stitches.

This example has been worked on an evenweave linen, granitos also can be worked on plain weave fabric.

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1
Granito method stage 1 illustration
Granito method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring your needle up and take it back down a few millimetres away.  Pull through.

2
Granito method stage 2 illustration
Granito method stage 2 photograph
2

Bring your needle back up in the first hole, and take it back down in the second.  Make sure your stitch lies to one side of the original stitch and try to avoid splitting the original stitch.

3
Granito method stage 3 illustration
Granito method stage 3 photograph
3

Repeat with another stitch which lies on the other side of the original stitch.  Make sure you always use the same holes.

4
Granito method stage 4 illustration
Granito method stage 4 photograph
4

Continue working stitches in this way until your granito is the desired size. Once you have worked a few stitches, some subsequent ones will sit in the centre of the granito.

5
Granito method stage 5 illustration
Granito method stage 5 photograph
5

A group of granitos.  The central granito has nine stitches, the surrounding ones have five.

Granito

Structure of stitch

Isolated Raised Circular

Common uses

Powdered filling Embellishment

Embroidery Techniques

Surface Madeira

Related Stitches

Dot stitch Satin stitch

Identifying Granito

Granitos have similarities with dot stitch, especially in some whitework traditions where dot stitch is worked with multiple fine threads in the needle.  Dot stitch is usually worked in lines, even when used a filling stitch the filling is often formed by lines of dot stitch whereas granitos are more likely to be worked as an individual stitch.

References

  • Judith Baker Montano, Floral stitches : an illustrated guide to floral stitchery (2000) , p.61
  • Carolyn Walker, The embroidery of Madeira (1987) , p.44