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Open fishbone stitch icon
Open fishbone stitch

Open fishbone stitch main image

This variation of fishbone stitch has a more open effect. It is often used to fill small shapes such as leaves or flower petals.  As it does not give a dense effect, if required an outline stitch, e.g. stem stitch, chain stitch can be worked around the edge of the shape.

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Crossed Parallel Open Filling Leaves Crewelwork Surface

Open fishbone stitch is generously sponsored by Jana Bass

Method

Work from top to bottom.

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1
Open fishbone stitch method stage 1 illustration
Open fishbone stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up to the left of the centre.

2
Open fishbone stitch method stage 2 illustration
Open fishbone stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Make a diagonal stitch to the right hand side edge.

3
Open fishbone stitch method stage 3 illustration
Open fishbone stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Bring up the needle on the left edge, and insert the needle just to the right of the centre to make another diagonal stitch.

4
Open fishbone stitch method stage 4 illustration
Open fishbone stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Come up just to the left of the centre and make the next diagonal stitch.

5
Open fishbone stitch method stage 5 illustration
Open fishbone stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Continue in this way until the shape is filled.

Open fishbone stitch

Structure of stitch

Crossed Parallel

Common uses

Open Filling Leaves

Embroidery Techniques

Crewelwork Surface

Related Stitches

Fishbone stitch Leaf stitch (surface)

References

  • Mrs Archibald Christie, Samplers and Stitches (1921) , p.15
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.91