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Half cross tent stitch icon
Half cross tent stitch

  • Half stitch
  • Tent stitch
  • Trammed tent stitch
  • Half-cross tent stitch

This is a form of tent stitch, the simplest and most common stitch in canvaswork and the foundation for many other stitches. Tent stitch is a diagonal stitch, usually worked across a single intersection of canvas from bottom left to top right.

Half cross tent stitch is worked in rows and makes a vertical stitch on the back.  It uses the minimum amount of thread on the reverse of the canvas.

For more information about this stitch see the entry for tent stitch.

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Flat Parallel Filling Canvaswork

Half cross tent stitch is generously sponsored by Sally Jorden

Method

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Half cross tent stitch method stage 1 illustration
Half cross tent stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Working from right to left, make a tent stitch from top right to bottom left.

Half cross tent stitch method stage 2 illustration
Half cross tent stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

On the reverse of the canvas make vertical stitch up across one thread of canvas.

Half cross tent stitch method stage 3 illustration
Half cross tent stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Begin the next tent stitch, again working from top right to bottom left. The back of an area worked in half cross will be quite open and will all be vertical stitches.

Half cross tent stitch method stage 4 illustration
Half cross tent stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

To work a row from left to right, the order of the stitch is reversed: i.e. bottom left to top right.

Half cross tent stitch

Structure of stitch

Flat Parallel

Common uses

Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Canvaswork

Related Stitches

Tent stitch Basketweave tent stitch Continental tent stitch

References

  • Various Authors, The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery (2018) , p.125
  • Santina M. Levey, The Embroideries at Hardwick Hall: a catalogue (2007) , p.271