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Treble Brussels stitch icon
Treble Brussels stitch

  • Triple Brussels stitch
  • Greek net stitch

​Treble Brussels stitch is a needlelace stitch, consisting of detached butthonhole stitches worked over a pre-existing outline. It is similar to Double Brussels Stitch, but three buttonhole stitches are worked instead of two. For Treble Brussels stitch, you might find it easier if you use a finer thread, for example a twisted silk.

Treble Brussels stitch is attached to the background fabric only at the edges. In the example below, a simple back stitch outline is used, but this could be a cordonnet when making a needlelace slip.

For more background see the entry for single Brussels stitch.

add_circleMy Stitches
Looped Detached Raised Filling Embellishment Needlelace Stumpwork

Treble Brussels stitch is generously sponsored by Rowena Lovatt

Method

It is very useful to work a sample to practice the stitch. Keep the tension as even as possible and try not to pull the stitches too tightly or too loosely. You could use a tapestry needle or a mellor to adjust the tension as you form the rows of stitches. When the thread is not long enough for the next row, finish the thread at the end of the row and start a new thread at the beginning of the new row.

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Treble Brussels stitch method stage 1 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Work three buttonhole stitches in the top left-hand corner of the shape as you worked two buttonhole stitches for Double Brussels Stitch.

Double Brussels stitch
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 2 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Leave a gap between the two triple buttonhole stitches and repeat along the row across the top of the shape. Attach the stitch to the right-hand side of the shape by whipping the edge.

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 3 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Whip the right-hand side edge again to bring the needle just below the first row.

 

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 4 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Work from right to left and start the second row by working three buttonhole stitches into the last loop of the first row. Continue to work three buttonhole stitches in each of the large loops of the previous row.

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 5 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Work to the left-hand side edge of the shape, and pass the needle through the left-hand side edge.

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 6 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Whip down the left-hand side edge to bring the needle just below the previous row.

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 7 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

Continue working backwards and forwards across the shape. On the final row, take the needle through the loop above and the bottom outer edge as you form each buttonhole stitch.

Treble Brussels stitch method stage 8 illustration
Treble Brussels stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

A completed treble Brussels stitch

Treble Brussels stitch

Structure of stitch

Looped Detached Raised

Common uses

Filling Embellishment

Embroidery Techniques

Needlelace Stumpwork

Related Stitches

Single Brussels stitch Double Brussels stitch Treble corded Brussels stitch

Identifying Treble Brussels stitch

​A woven stitch using buttonhole stitch in rows to fill a shape. Three buttonhole stitches are worked into the loop of each alternate stitch above on the previous row.

References

  • Various Authors, The Royal School of Needlework Book of Embroidery (2018) , p.227