CRETAN STITCH
The Cretan Stitch is a good choice for working borders as well as unique shapes and oblong areas. It is a member of the looped stitch family, therefore, it must be worked using a
CRETAN STITCH
DIAGONAL VARIATION
loose tension. It will be necessary to hold the loop of each stitch as you work until the next stitch anchors it down. When done correctly, the basic cretan stitch will look as if a braid is worked down the center. There are three variations of this stitch. They are: the basic cretan stitch, the leaf cretan stitch and the diagonal cretan stitch. Two diagrams have been used to illustrate the basic cretan stitch, plus one diagram for the leaf cretan stitch and one diagram for the diagonal cretan stitch.
Cretan Stitch (Diagram 1):
Bring the needle up at A, move to the right over six canvas threads, bring the needle down at B. Be sure to work this initial stitch, illustrated in light blue, using a loose tension. This will help give it a very small "looped" appearance. This next stitch is illustrated in dark blue. Bring the needle up at D, move to the right over four canvas threads and up over one canvas thread, bring the needle down at C. At this point, the yarn will be worked OVER the A/B stitch, pulling the A/B stitch down. Now, continue on to Diagram 2...
Cretan Stitch (Diagram 2):
Beginning where we left off at C, bring the needle up at E, move to the right over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at F. Bring the needle up at H, move to the left over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at G. Bring the needle up at I, move to the right over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at J. Bring the needle up at L, move to the left over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at K. Bring the needle up at M, move to the right over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at N. As you can see from the diagrams, the stitches are worked over and around the previous stitch, NOT the canvas threads. This completes the cretan stitch. To appreciate the full effect of this stitch, it needs to be worked on canvas. The illustrations do not do it justice.
CRETAN STITCH
LEAF VARIATION
Cretan Stitch Leaf Variation (Diagram 1):
This variation of the cretan stitch creates a "leaf" shape. It is worked using larger loops than the regular cretan stitch. Bring the needle up at A and create a loop. Holding the loop in place, return to where we started at A, bring the needle down. Bring the needle up at B, move up and to the left over one canvas intersection and create a loop. Be sure to work the yarn OVER the previous loop (A). This will hold the first loop in place. Again, work the yarn over and around the yarn, not the canvas thread. Holding the new loop in place, bring the needle down at C. Bring the needle up at D, move up over one canvas thread and to the right over two canvas threads and create a loop. Holding the new loop in place, bring the needle down at E. Bring the needle up at F, move up over one canvas thread and to the left over two canvs threads, bring the needle down at G. Again, be sure that you follow the diagram to see which stitches are worked to hold the previous loops in place. Continue working in this manner until you reach the end of the row.
Cretan Stitch Diagonal Variation (Diagram 1):
This variation of the cretan stitch is worked diagonally, hence the name. Bring the needle up at A, move down and to the left over six canvas intersections, bring the needle down at B. Remember to keep the yarn tension loose enough to create a loop. Bring the needle up at C, working the needle OVER the previous stitch, move up over three canvas threads and to the right over five canvas threads, bring the needle down at D. Again, remember to keep the yarn tension loos enough to create a loop. Bring the needle up at E, working the needle OVER the previous stitch, move down over five canvas threads and to the left over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at F. Yet again, remember to keep the yarn tension loos enough to create a loop. Bring the needle up at G, working the needle OVER the previous stitch, move up over three canvas threads and to the right over five canvas threads, bring the needle down at H. Bring the needle up at I, working the needle OVER the previous stitch, move down over five canvas threads and to the left over four canvas threads, bring the needle down at J. This completes the diagonal variation of the cretan stitch. And again, it needs to be worked to be appreciated.
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