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Single faggot stitch icon
Single faggot stitch

  • Diagonal line stitch
  • Diagonal square stitch
  • Four-sided stitch
  • Square openwork stitch
Single faggot stitch main image

Single faggot stitch is a simple pulled thread stitch worked on the diagonal. It is the foundation for a variety of diagonal stitches.

Reversed faggot stitch (as the name suggests) is the same as the reverse of this stitch.

Multiple rows of this stitch have similarities with a diagonal version of four-sided stitch, although the reverse is different.  Some texts suggest they are the same stitch (hence the alternative name) but there are subtle differences in the direction of each component of the stitch.

N.B. Thérèse de Dillmont calls this ‘Third pattern’ in her Encyclopedia of Needlework.

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Pulled Reversible Embellishment Open Filling Pulled Thread Whitework

Single faggot stitch is generously sponsored by Hilary Hale

Method

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Single faggot stitch method stage 1 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up just inside your outline. Make a vertical stitch up over three threads.

Single faggot stitch method stage 2 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Count left three and down three, bring the needle up and pull.

Single faggot stitch method stage 3 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Make a horizontal stitch three to the right, back down into the first hole.

Single faggot stitch method stage 4 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Count three left and three down, bring the needle up and pull.

Single faggot stitch method stage 5 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Make a vertical stitch up over three threads, into the previous hole. Repeat to complete the first row.

Single faggot stitch method stage 6 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

To begin the second row, bring the needle up through the last hole of the previous row and make a horizontal stitch over three threads to the left.

Single faggot stitch method stage 7 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Count right three and up three, bring the needle up and pull.

Single faggot stitch method stage 8 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

Make a vertical stitch down over three threads, into the hole of the previous row. Repeat to complete the row.

Single faggot stitch method stage 9 illustration
Single faggot stitch method stage 9 photograph
9

Continue creating more rows as above to complete single faggot stitch.

Single faggot stitch

Structure of stitch

Pulled Reversible

Common uses

Embellishment Open Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Pulled Thread Whitework

Related Stitches

Double faggot filling stitch Diagonal chevron stitch Diagonal drawn filling

References

  • Mrs Archibald Christie, Samplers and Stitches (1921) , p.97
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.92
  • Lizzy Lansberry, RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Whitework (2012) , p.41
  • Sarah Whittle, The Needlecraft Stitch Directory (2012) , p.187
  • Thérèse De Dillmont, Encyclopedia of Needlework (1886)