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Trellis icon
Trellis

  • Trellis filling
  • square laid filling
  • squared laid work
  • Couched filling stitch
  • Jacobean Couching

​This stitch consists of rows of long horizontal and vertical single stitches, perpendicular to each other, covering the required area. A small stitch is then placed at each point where the two threads cross over one another to secure the trellis pattern.

Trellis dates from Jacobean crewelwork where it was used, alongside its variation Cross bar filling trellis, to fill large areas of designs.

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Laid Trellis Couched Crossed Pattern Open Filling Filling Crewelwork Surface Mountmellick

Further Reading

RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Crewelwork by Jacqui McDonald
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Trellis is generously sponsored by Joy Edgington, Pastures New Quilting

Method

There are many variations on this basic trellis that are more decorative. See related stitches.

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Trellis method stage 1 illustration
Trellis method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle up at the edge of the area to be filled, and take it down on the edge directly opposite. It is advantageous to start in the centre or the widest part of the area to be filled.

Trellis method stage 2 illustration
Trellis method stage 2 photograph
2

Pull the thread through so that the first stitch lies directly across the centre of the shape, then bring the needle up through the fabric further along the design.

Trellis method stage 3 illustration
Trellis method stage 3 photograph
3

Take the needle down directly opposite, ensuring that the stitches lie parallel, to create a series of evenly spaced open laid stitches.

Laid work
Trellis method stage 4 illustration
Trellis method stage 4 photograph
4

Continue to work one half of the shape in the same way, by building up parallel lines. Be careful to space them evenly.

Trellis method stage 5 illustration
Trellis method stage 5 photograph
5

Once you have completed this half of the shape, work the remainder in the same way, working away from the first stitch in the centre.

Trellis method stage 6 illustration
Trellis method stage 6 photograph
6

Again, starting in the centre or the widest part of the area to be filled, work perpendicular parallel stitches to cover one side.

Trellis method stage 7 illustration
Trellis method stage 7 photograph
7

Work the other side in the same way and fasten off the thread on the paint line. You can hide the paint line later with an outline stitch.
This framework is the basis for a variety of other open filling stitches where you can anchor the intersection using a variety of decorative stitches such as those listed here.

Battlement couching Cross bar filling trellis
Trellis method stage 8 illustration
Trellis method stage 8 photograph
8

For a plain basic Trellis, anchor each intersection with a small diagonal stitch.

Trellis

Structure of stitch

A series of long open parallel Laid stitches, evenly spaced and layered perpendicular to the previous layer to form a grid framework.

Laid Trellis Couched Crossed Pattern

Common uses

A fast filling stitch useful in filling large areas quickly, it comprises of a grid framework, upon which, other stitches may be worked to decorative effect.

Open Filling Filling

Embroidery Techniques

The grid framework may be placed squarley on the grain of the fabric or at a diagonal.

Crewelwork Surface Mountmellick

Related Stitches

Back stitch trellis Block trellis (pattern) Cross bar filling trellis Cross bar with link trellis Diagonal trellis (pattern) Diamond trellis (pattern)

References

  • Ada Wentworth Fitzwilliam, A. F. Morris Hands, Jacobean Embroidery: Its Forms and Fillings Including Late Tudor (1912) , p.36, p40
  • Kate Haxell, The Stitch Bible (2012) , p.103
  • Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004) , p.109

Examples of Trellis

Folding Crewelwork Screen, RSN Collection No. 1287

Triptych 2, RSN Collection No. 587