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Greek stitch icon
Greek stitch

This canvas stitch produces a plaited pattern in horizontal bands. The movement of working this stitch is similar to herringbone stitch, but the stitches are spaced asymmetrically.

This stitch can be used as a filling stitch or alternatively as a wide border which accentuates its interwoven appearance.

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Crossed Filling Border Canvaswork

Greek stitch is generously sponsored by Diana Maxwell

Method

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Greek stitch method stage 1 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Work the first row from left to right. Bring the needle up and make a diagonal stitch from bottom left to top right over two threads.

Greek stitch method stage 2 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Come up to the left over two threads and make a long-arm of the cross slanting down as shown in the picture (two threads down and four stitches across).

Greek stitch method stage 3 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Come up to two threads to the left and take your needle down two threads to the right and two threads up to make a diagonal stitch.  Your diagonal stitch should be at the same angle as your first stitch.

Greek stitch method stage 4 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Come up to the left over two threads where the first diagonal stitch went in, and make a long-arm cross slanting down.

Greek stitch method stage 5 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Repeat the process and fill the first row.

Greek stitch method stage 6 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Work the second row from right to left.

First, bring your needle up two threads down from the bottom right point of your previous row.  Count two threads up and two left to make a diagonal stitch.

Greek stitch method stage 7 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Come up two threads to the right, and make a long-arm cross slanting down in the opposite direction (two threads down and four threads across).

Greek stitch method stage 8 illustration
Greek stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

Continue towards left until you fill the shape. Repeat these two rows until the area is filled and the look of a plaited surface is achieved.

Greek stitch

Structure of stitch

Crossed

Common uses

Filling Border

Embroidery Techniques

Canvaswork

Related Stitches

Montenegrin stitch Long-armed cross stitch

Identifying Greek stitch

Greek stitch consists of long diagonal stitches, sloping from the top left to bottom right.  Each long stitch is crossed by two short stitches, the first below and the second above.  On the reverse, it forms two parallel lines of back stitch.

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.110
  • Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004)