Monday, October 15, 2012

100 Stitches - Maltese Cross Stitch

I found this latest stitch on my 100 Stitches list to be so complicated that I actually had to draw a diagram to follow!


Here is the stitch completed - wow!  This is the Maltese Cross Stitch.  100 Stitches calls this a decorative motif.  Bascially, it is a foundation of crossed straight stitches with an interlacing thread on top:


I used two different colors for my stitch.  The purple is DMC #550 in pearl cotton and the yellow is DMC #727 also in pearl cotton:


I transferred my diagram onto my fabric.  Notice the end point of each line in this diagram.  These are all the spots where you come up or go into the fabric.  Notice also the outer most lines are split into two lines each but the four interior lines are solid across the whole motif.   My first step was to come up through the fabric at the very top of the motif.


Here is a partial list of the stitch order. 


You can follow the thread in these next pictures:








When I finished I had the foundation for this stitch.  The over/under positions of the threads making up this foundation are critical - if they are not correct, the top thread cannot be interlaced to make the design. 


Next I started the interlacing with the yellow thread.  I came up through the fabric at the top of the center square:


Then I started the interlacing:


The pictures included in the 100 Stitches book showed the interlacing progression and I literally had to trace my way through to follow all the over and under weaving!


Very confusing! 


This stitch is a lot like the Interlacing Stitch.



Here is a picture of the underside of the stitching:


Whew! I am glad I learned this stitch and so happy to have a picture to prove it!


It is a beautiful stitch:


The Maltese Cross Stitch is #62 on the list and is in the Composite Stitches section of 100 Stitches.

15 comments:

Digna said...

Hi Kim. It's really nice this stich. And it's very clean in the back side of the fabric.
Thanks for your visit to my blog.

Carmen said...

Nice, someday I'll have to try some of these stitches.

Jane S. said...

It's complicated but you executed it beautifully! Very neat and clean, and it really is a lovely stitch.

Ana Love Craft said...

Hi Kim ,
Another amazing stitch.Thanks so much for sharing the great tutorial!
Happy week!

Hugs from Portugal,

Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

Kim said...

Hi Digna - Yes this stitch looks good on both sides!
Carmen - Thanks - You should!
Hi Jane - Thank you :)
Ana - Thank you! Have a great week!

Wendy said...

that's a gorgeous stitch!

Denise :) said...

Oh my, this is really lovely!! Great demo, too! :)

Kim said...

Hi Wendy - Thank you!
Denise - Thanks :)

Sondra said...

Oh this is just gorgeous! Another one I can use on my scrapbook pages!!!

btw... I just left you some love on my blog. I used a stitch I learned from you and linked it back here. Thanks again for posting these easy-to-follow directions. I just love your work!

Powerstitch Design Studio said...

Beautiful!! You have mastered the stitch………….

Embroidery Digitizing

Kim said...

Sondra - Thanks and thank you for the blog link!!! Your stitching looks just fantastic on paper - not to mention your paper folding -gorgeous!
Hi Powerstitch Design Studio - Thank you!

JennyPennyPoppy said...

Such a great looking stitch and you explained it so perfectly with such clear pictures. Thank you!

Kim said...

Thanks Jenny!

l'alternativa said...

Sempre ottimi insegnamenti mia cara Kim, sei proprio bravissima. Baci
Emi

Kim said...

Ciao Emi
Grazie per il bel commento.
Mi piace ricamare!