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Two-sided Italian cross stitch icon
Two-sided Italian cross stitch

  • Arrowhead cross stitch
  • Italian cross stitch
  • Two-sided cross stitch
  • Framed cross stitch

This stitch consists of a cross stitch edged on two sides with a vertical and a horizontal straight stitch.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch was certainly in use during the late medieval period as there is evidence it was used in Opus Teutonicum ecclesiastical embroidery from this time.

It subsequently featured regularly on English samplers, as demonstrated by this late 16th century example currently held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.  They hold several other samplers which also feature this stitch.

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Crossed Pattern Reversible Filling Canvaswork

Two-sided Italian cross stitch is generously sponsored by Joanne Sprague

Method

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Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 1 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Method A:
The stitch is worked from the bottom left corner over three threads of the canvas.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 2 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Three stitches radiate from the bottom left corner.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 3 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

The fourth stitch is taken from the bottom right corner of the square to the top left corner of the square.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 4 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Repeat the four movements to the right.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 5 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

A row of Two-Sided Italian stitch.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 6 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Method B:
This is worked in two journeys from left to right and right to left to complete a single row. Bring the needle up and take it down at three threads to the left.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 7 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

The second stitch is from the top right corner of the square to the bottom left corner of the square.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 8 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 8 photograph
8

The third stitch is from the top left corner of the square to the bottom left corner of the square.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 9 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 9 photograph
9

Bring the needle up at six threads to the right and repeat the three stitches.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 10 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 10 photograph
10

The first row is worked from left to right.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 11 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 11 photograph
11

At the end of the first row, bring the needle up from the bottom right corner of the square to the top right corner of the square.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 12 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 12 photograph
12

Journey back from right to left with a diagonal stitch from bottom right corner of the square to the top left corner of the square.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 13 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 13 photograph
13

When you complete the first row, bring up the needle at the top right corner of the square, which is the bottom right corner of the first square in the second row.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 14 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 14 photograph
14

Repeat the three stitches.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 15 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 15 photograph
15

Journey from left to right.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 16 illustration
Two-sided Italian cross stitch method stage 16 photograph
16

Journey back from right to left to complete the row.

Two-sided Italian cross stitch

Structure of stitch

Crossed Pattern Reversible

Common uses

Filling

Embroidery Techniques

Canvaswork

Related Stitches

Greek stitch Long-armed cross stitch Cross stitch Montenegrin stitch

Identifying Two-sided Italian cross stitch

From the reverse, this stitch consists of cross stitches, each underlined by a straight stitch.

References