Diamond eyelet stitch and double backstitch leaves

Welcome to the fourth band in my complimentary whitework embroidery sampler.If you have just discovered the site and this Stitch a long then don't worry you can access the previous bands by following the links at the end of this page.

As you can see from the photograph above, this band is made up of individual pulled motifs. In the centre we have a diamond eyelet. For the leaves on either side, we will revisit double back stitch, a versatile stitch that can be used in many ways.

You can click here to download the chart for this band. I have included the bottom row of satin stitch from the last row to help you with placement.

We are going to leave 6 clear fabric threads below the third band. The eyelet will eventually cover 16 fabric threads and is worked in the centre of the row. Each stitch will start on the outside of the shape and the needle will be taken down in the centre, pulling away from the centre to enlarge the hole in the middle.

It is always best to start an eyelet 1 stitch away from a vertical or horizontal stitch. Follow the diagram below coming up at the number and going down in the centre. Pull firmly. To fasten off pull the final stitch towards the centre and slip the needle behind the stitches at the bottom right of the stitch a few times to secure.

Next we will stitch the little leaves.

We will start off at the point of the leaf and by alternating our stitches on either side. Then we will change to working from one side to the centre, so as to create the vein‚. After working up the other side of the vien we will then complete the leaf. Follow the numbering on the diagram carefully.

Keep a reasonable tension on the thread, in order to make the outline and vein show up, and to pack the fabric threads close together inside the leaf shape. The contrast of solid stitches in the eyelet and solid fabric in the leaves, creates an interesting counter balance.

To work the leaf on the other side of the diamond eyelet stitch, turn either your work or the diagram upside down (of course you will need to print this page in order to do the latter - smile).

In the next issue we will work a band using two more new pulled thread embroidery stitches.

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