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Mountmellick stitch icon
Mountmellick stitch

Mountmellick stitch main image

This stitch looks like a chain stitch with a little leg, it is often used for thorny stems in foliage.

It is one of the outline stitches used in Mountmellick embroidery.

add_circleMy Stitches
Chained Border Outline Whitework Mountmellick Surface

Mountmellick stitch is generously sponsored by Stephanie Wright

Method

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Mountmellick stitch method stage 1 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up at the top of the line. Go down diagonally to the right and pull through.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 2 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Come back up horizontally on the line below the starting point.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 3 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Pass the needle under the first diagonal stitch from top right to bottom left.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 4 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Pull through.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 5 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Go down the same hole of your starting point. Keep the thread in clockwise direction and leave a loop.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 6 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Come out at the same hole you came out the second time on the line. Make sure the needle is inside the loop.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 7 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Now pull out the needle gently to make a chain. This completes a mountmellick stitch.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 8 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

Continue with a diagonal stitch to the right.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 9 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 9 photograph
9

Come back out on the line.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 10 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 10 photograph
10

Pass the thread under the diagonal stitch.

Mountmellick stitch method stage 11 illustration
Mountmellick stitch method stage 11 photograph
11

Keep the thread in clockwise direction and take the needle down at the same hole you started the second diagonal stitch. Make a chain as before and continue.

Mountmellick stitch

Structure of stitch

Chained

Common uses

Border Outline

Embroidery Techniques

Whitework Mountmellick Surface

References

  • Jane Houston-Almqvist, Mountmellick Work (1985, 1990, 1996)
  • Pat Trott, Beginner’s Guide to Mountmellick Embroidery (2002)
  • Yvette Stanton & Prue scott, Mountmellick Embroidery Inspired by Nature (2004)