Long Stitch

LONG STITCH (Straight Stitch)

Long Stitch (Diagram 1):

Bring the needle up at A, go up across your choice of canvas threads (here we have chosen six), bring the needle down at B. Bring the needle up at C, move up over six canvas threads, bring the needle down at D. Bring the needle up at E, move up over six canvas threads, bring the needle down at F. Bring the needle up at G, move up over six canvas threads, bring the needle down at H. Bring the needle up at I, move up over six canvas threads, bring the needle down at J. For an example of what you can create with this simple stitch, scroll down this page...

Long Stitches are worked vertically. They are a great stitch for working

I named this piece "The 4 F's" (fish, fowl, flowers, flutterbys). This project is a free-standing, four piece, hinged room divider that stands 6 feet tall with the hand carved frame. Each section is 2 1/2 feet wide, plus frame.

The frame is made of wood, painted antique white and has hidden hinges that connect each section. The back of the piece is covered with the same antique white

wood, making it attactive from whichever angle you view it. It will fold together for ease of transportation.

It was inspired by Japanese Silk Screens. Unable to afford a Japanenese Silk Screen and having no knowledge of silk screening techniques, I decided to try designing my own, using needlepoint.

The choice of design makes an interesting story. Because this was the first

needlepoint project I had ever designed, I was not knowledgable when it came to the amount of yarn I would need. A local craft store was clearing out it's needlepoint yarn - at obscenely low prices - so I purchased most of what they had. What they had was yarn in a wide range of colors, but in small quantities. This encouraged me to choose something colorful to design that would use small amounts of yarn.

So, my first choice was butterflies. Once that section was finished, I decided to try birds, then flowers and finally, fish (mostly tropical). As you can tell, I pretty much made it up as I went along. There was no grand plan to the project. After it was complete, I approached a local woodworker that I knew, explained what I wanted and he created the beautiful, one-of-a-kind frame.

The entire project was worked in Long Stitch. I simply drew butterfly or bird or flower or fish, placed the 10-mesh mono canvas over the design and traced it onto the canvas. From there, I worked the stitches directly onto the canvas. No counting was necessary because the design was already on the canvas! Pretty cool, huh? It took me about a year to complete.

I have also designed and stitched another 4-piece room divider, with cats and dogs as the theme. Unfortunately, it was destroyed a few years ago in a house fire. Fortunately, no lives were lost or injuries sustained. I have recently decided to use some of the dogs and cats from that design for projects here, at stitchopedia.com. The first one is called Boris, The Boxer. You will see the FREE LONG STITCH design ads throughout the site for this project, or you may simply click on the image below to be taken directly to him. Happy stitchin'...

Fish, Fowl, Flowers and Flutterbys...

A journey through a long stitch project...

By: Carolyn McNeil

4/1/2008

Boris, The Boxer

20" x 16"

Long Stitch design with Brick Stitch background

By: Carolyn McNeil

large pieces of canvas. However, do not create a stitch that is too long. This stitch may be adjusted in length to suit any area. It is an excellent stitch for creating wrinkles in a face or on clothing. Where one long stitch ends and another begins, a "line" is formed that can create the illusion of the wrinkle you are attempting to create. One diagram has been used to demonstrate this stitch.

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Basil, The Bulldog, Sample Long Stitch:

This image shows a close-up of Basil, The Bulldog (full image is below). You can see from this image how the long stitch is worked from detailed line to detailed line. These detailed lines have been drawn onto the canvas and are simple to follow. Where one long stitch ends and another long stitch begins, the details of the image begin to form - in this case, the wrinkles in Basils furry coat.

Helpful hint: Always separate the 3-ply persian yarn before stitching. This is what gives the piece a full look - you cannot tell one long stitch from another. Instead the row of long stitches literally FILL the canvas and create a 3-D effect.