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Milanese stitch icon
Milanese stitch

This is a canvaswork filling stitch consisting of diagonally offset triangles.

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Flat Pattern Parallel Filling Canvaswork

Milanese stitch is generously sponsored by Jessica Fanego

Method

Milanese stitch gives a flat, medium-sized pattern repeat which fills in quickly. It is good for backgrounds.
The triangles of this stitch can also be made with horizontal stitches across two, four, six and eight threads of canvas to make straight Milanese stitch. This stitch has straight vertical bands of the pattern.

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Milanese stitch method stage 1 illustration
Milanese stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

For the first unit, make a tent stitch across one canvas intersection.

Milanese stitch method stage 2 illustration
Milanese stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Below it make a stitch across two intersections, then three, then four.

Milanese stitch method stage 3 illustration
Milanese stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Repeat this sequence of stitches over one, two, three and four canvas intersections in a diagonal row from top left to bottom right.

Milanese stitch method stage 4 illustration
Milanese stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Work the next row of triangles in reverse, so that they fit into the gaps of the first row. The smallest stitch of one row should always be next to the largest stitch of the following row.

Milanese stitch

Structure of stitch

This stitch is worked in diagonal rows of triangular units.

Flat Pattern Parallel

Common uses

Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Canvaswork

Related Stitches

Byzantine stitch Condensed cashmere stitch Moorish stitch Mosaic stitch Condensed Scotch stitch Tent stitch

References

  • Rachel Doyle, RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Canvaswork (2013) , p.70
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.149–50