Time again for
100 Stitches! This gorgeous stitch is the step stitch:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPU4VKlRnTI/AAAAAAAAB4c/vrRsqvToDVY/s400/ss1.jpg)
It looks pretty difficult to do doesn't it?! It actually turned out to be easier that I thought it would be. At least my version :)
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPU60ws9wbI/AAAAAAAAB4s/y8jjk-wwikY/s400/ss3.jpg)
100 Stitches was a little short on some details. I had to just assume what was meant and go with that!
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPU61LdIAGI/AAAAAAAAB40/EmLlg5SvWTk/s400/ss4.jpg)
The first step is to draw some guidelines. 100 Stitches suggested that you make two parallel lines, approximately 1/2" apart:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVHu-ZGHXI/AAAAAAAAB48/qRAdLTcd4l4/s400/ss5.jpg)
Now, stitch the two lines with
chain stitch. Make sure the stitches are exactly in line with each other.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVHvIILogI/AAAAAAAAB5E/o4AyqGK5lm0/s400/ss6.jpg)
For the next steps, I chose a contrasting colored floss so that everything would be easy to see.
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVKb9qeh6I/AAAAAAAAB5M/qGLhXSzJDdc/s400/ss7.jpg)
Come up through the fabric through the second chain stitch on the left side:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVeW6X3Q1I/AAAAAAAAB5U/gR2iWJAfujM/s400/ss8.jpg)
And back into the fabric through the second chain stitch on the right side. Work
straight stitches across the two rows of chain stitch...
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVea6unHcI/AAAAAAAAB5c/ncUSokv7nbQ/s400/ss9.jpg)
linking every second pair...
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVebofaNoI/AAAAAAAAB5k/ERnmpe3lgko/s400/ss10.jpg)
of chain stitches:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVecDcGm1I/AAAAAAAAB5s/GG8q2hbsnBI/s400/ss11.jpg)
Making a nice ladder look:
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVecwKoRfI/AAAAAAAAB50/6TLH_HpsXHQ/s400/ss12.jpg)
I am only stitching a few lines for my demonstration:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVeorKI5hI/AAAAAAAAB58/jUZ7yi155G0/s400/ss13.jpg)
Three should be enough:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVeo1u66WI/AAAAAAAAB6E/p5-CMJMutXI/s400/ss14.jpg)
Now come up through the fabric right below the left side of your first straight stitch:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVkgW6YqSI/AAAAAAAAB6M/7xyLNIlo-AM/s400/ss15.jpg)
Make sure your floss stays on the left hand side of the needle and that your needle is pointing down. Go under the straight stitch and:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVktrinPiI/AAAAAAAAB6c/sTFMuJJgryg/s400/ss17.jpg)
whip around the straight stitch about four or five times, until you are at the center of the straight stitch. At this point, insert your needle 1/8" above the straight stitch and bring it back up right below the straight stitch forming a vertical stitch:
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVk-Pf73lI/AAAAAAAAB6s/Ky-XMeARXOk/s400/ss19.jpg)
Now making sure the needle is pointing up, and that your floss stays to the left side of the needle:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVlWzZFFtI/AAAAAAAAB68/lsu_Pum964c/s400/ss20.jpg)
start whipping around the straight stitch:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVlhNWm6WI/AAAAAAAAB7E/0DMjIS1XZC0/s400/ss21.jpg)
about four or five times until you are at the right end of the straight stitch. 100 Stitches didn't specify how to finish this off so I just made an extra whip around and went back into the fabric and secured my floss:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVlnxrh2RI/AAAAAAAAB7M/qLVaAwgSBhw/s400/ss22.jpg)
Move down to the next straight stitch and start again:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVlvCzQ8QI/AAAAAAAAB7U/onsqZlMf84Q/s400/ss23.jpg)
When you reach the center, pass the needle under the middle vertical stitch you made on the straight stitch above you. Just pass your needle under it and pull down:
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVl1HAb8ZI/AAAAAAAAB7c/LTjFlgVDq7I/s400/ss24.jpg)
Now start whipping around the straight stitch just like you did before - remembering that this is the second half of the straight stitch so your needle is pointing up:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVl66e2dUI/AAAAAAAAB7k/FoWfBcSLG5I/s400/ss25.jpg)
Finish that and start on the next straight stitch:
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVmLmTNJeI/AAAAAAAAB7s/KMiSuZup0xM/s400/ss26.jpg)
Just keep going until you have completed all of your straight stitches:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPU60qqWs9I/AAAAAAAAB4k/30dOg64fGxI/s400/ss2.jpg)
I hope that I did this stitch correctly, I would appreciate any advice or critiques! I also included a picture of the back of my stitching:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/TPVkrrw-1EI/AAAAAAAAB6U/F_6dD7kYiGo/s400/ss16.jpg)
This stitch is #65 and is in the composite stitches section of 100 Stitches.