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Ridge Filling icon
Ridge Filling

Ridge Filling main image

This pulled work stitch consists of diagonal rows of crosses which, as its name suggests, forms a diagonal ridged effect.  It is worked over four threads and is a smaller version of diagonal cross filling.

Ridge filling first appears in print under that name in Mary Thomas’ 1934 Dictionary of embroidery stitches.

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Crossed Pulled Embellishment Open Filling Pulled thread filling Pulled Thread Whitework Diagonal cross filling

Ridge Filling is generously sponsored by Diana Stephenson

Method

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1
Ridge Filling method stage 1 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up at the top right of your design area. Make a vertical stitch down over four threads.

2
Ridge Filling method stage 2 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 2 photograph
2

Count left two and up two, bring the needle up and pull. This makes a small diagonal stitch on the back.

3
Ridge Filling method stage 3 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 3 photograph
3

Make a vertical stitch down over four threads. Repeat to form a diagonal line.

4
Ridge Filling method stage 4 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 4 photograph
4

At the end of the row, count left two and up two from the last hole and bring the needle up. Make a horizontal stitch to the right over four threads to form a cross.

5
Ridge Filling method stage 5 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 5 photograph
5

Count left two and up two, bring the needle up and pull. Repeat to complete the diagonal line.

6
Ridge Filling method stage 6 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 6 photograph
6

To start the next row, count four threads left from the top of the previous row and bring the needle up. Make a vertical stitch down over four threads sharing a hole with the previous row.

7
Ridge Filling method stage 7 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 7 photograph
7

Count left two and up two, bring the needle up and pull. Repeat to complete the diagonal line.

8
Ridge Filling method stage 8 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 8 photograph
8

At the end of the row, work back up with crossing stitches. Repeat to fill the shape.

9
Ridge Filling method stage 9 illustration
Ridge Filling method stage 9 photograph
9

A completed area of ridge filling.

10
Ridge Filling method stage 10 photograph
10

The reverse of ridge filling.

Ridge Filling

Structure of stitch

Crossed Pulled

Common uses

Embellishment Open Filling Pulled thread filling

Embroidery Techniques

Pulled Thread Whitework

Variant Stitches

Diagonal cross filling

Identifying Ridge Filling

This stitch shows diagonal rows of holes, each joined by a vertical cross.  It is a smaller (over four threads) version of diagonal cross filling stitch and is therefore more densely worked and less open.

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.170