This little flower is being outlined with the split stitch:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7P14883-BI/AAAAAAAAArM/sV-PlKYUUT8/s400/blog+split+stitch+2.jpg)
The split stitch is the featured stitch in my latest installment of the
100 stitches project. In the process pictures that follow, I am using six strands of dmc floss, color 907 and a #24 chenille needle. This is stitched on 100% cotton quilting weight fabric.
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7P1g-vRJbI/AAAAAAAAAq8/JEZtpgigoYE/s400/blog+split+stitch+3.jpg)
Here are the steps. First, come up through your fabric on your stitching line:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7P1ELwbEgI/AAAAAAAAAqs/mUaZ1EaITbc/s400/blog+split+stitch+4.jpg)
Push the needle back down through the fabric at your preferred stitch length:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7Pz2hICtSI/AAAAAAAAAqk/jkdH6z9XzX0/s400/blog+split+stitch+5.jpg)
Pull all the way through to form a simple stitch:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PzsAvjSWI/AAAAAAAAAqc/3gbSlAthPKg/s400/blog+split+stitch+6.jpg)
Come up
through the stitch you just formed. Just split it right in the middle with your needle!
Pull the needle and thread all the way through:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PzPXgOPDI/AAAAAAAAAqM/P7bcwwRcnqo/s400/blog+split+stitch+8.jpg)
Now go back down through the fabric - again, at your preferred stitch length:
Pull all the way through to form the next simple stitch:
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PyoyxSzQI/AAAAAAAAAp8/ZLtN_uI5e9g/s400/blog+split+stitch+10.jpg)
And then, again, come up right in the middle of this stitch:
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PyfXfiFrI/AAAAAAAAAp0/Hfd3UvN8Kl8/s400/blog+split+stitch+11.jpg)
Just keep on stitching in this fashion:
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PyFl4egtI/AAAAAAAAApk/5CD6vKP_EXE/s400/blog+split+stitch+12.jpg)
and keep going:
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7PyFwMLp1I/AAAAAAAAAps/EtcJOtSBdIs/s400/blog+split+stitch+13.jpg)
Until you have a line of split stitches!
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7Px3nVAWXI/AAAAAAAAApc/uuQfT9fLQa0/s400/blog+split+stitch+14.jpg)
This is such a simple, easy to learn stitch! It is also a good stitch to use for quick outlines. According to 100 Stitches, the split stitch resembles a fine chain stitch and can even be used as a filling stitch. I think it is funny that this "split" stitch is #50 of 100 stitches!
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_72l8lSazS_Q/S7P1xCwYWBI/AAAAAAAAArE/9MTJt90pnrk/s400/blog+split+stitch+1.jpg)
This stitch is in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.