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Scallop stitch icon
Scallop stitch

Scallop stitch main image

This canvaswork stitch is formed of interlocking vertical scallop shapes.  The shapes are made up of straight stiches which radiate from a single point to mimic the lines of a scallop shell.  The stitch has some similarities with fan stitch and shell stitch (variation).

add_circleMy Stitches
Fan Pattern Filling Shading Canvaswork Counted Thread Shell stitch (variation) Fan stitch

Scallop stitch is generously sponsored by the Auckland Embroiderers’ Guild, New Zealand

Method

This stich is useful to fill large areas of foliage.

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1
Scallop stitch method stage 1 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Begin by working a central vertical straight stitch over 12 threads of the canvas.

2
Scallop stitch method stage 2 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Work four diagonal straight stitches of graduating length into the base, arranged so that they radiate to the left.

3
Scallop stitch method stage 3 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Work a further four stitches into the base hole, again radiating to the left, this time each stitch starts directly below one another.

4
Scallop stitch method stage 4 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Repeat step 2 as a mirror image on the right hand side of the original central stitch.

5
Scallop stitch method stage 5 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Repeat step 3 as a mirror image on the right hand side of the original central stitch to complete the first scallop stitch.

6
Scallop stitch method stage 6 illustration
Scallop stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Arrange the scallops in horizontal rows across the shape to be covered and interlock each row with the previous row.

Scallop stitch

Structure of stitch

Fan Pattern

Common uses

Filling Shading

Embroidery Techniques

Canvaswork Counted Thread

Variant Stitches

Shell stitch (variation) Fan stitch

Identifying Scallop stitch

This stitch is formed by vertical scallop shapes consisting of 17 stitches each.  For a smaller vertical scallop (of 7 stitches) with a small stitch forming the base of the shell, see shell stitch (variation); for a diagonal scallop/fan shape (of 7 stitches) see fan stitch.

References

  • Mary Thomas, Jan Eaton, Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (Revised Edition) (1989) , p.161