Tag: VideoTutorials

Plain Diamond Eyelet:

1 This stich is best stitched in 1 strand only, so you’ll need to anchor the thread to a nearby stitch, on the back of the fabric. We’re going to work the eyelet from the centre outwards, because it’s easier to count the threads of fabrics this way.

Bring the needle up in the centre of the stitch (#1 on the diagram below), push the needle back through to the back of the fabric in (#2) to stitch the first diagonal line. Bring the needle back up in the centre of the stitch (#3 – same hole as #1) and stitch the second diagonal stitch.

2 Keep going clockwise, always coming back through the centre of the stitch, saving the top vertical stitch for the end, for a neat finish:

3 Fasten the thread at the back of the eyelet by weaving it through the stitches at the back a few times and securing it with a couple of little knots. Find out how to do so here.

Sequin variation:

1 Even more so than the plain eyelet, the sequin variation must be stitched in 1 strand only, so that the sequin shows through the stitch and the hole of the sequin doesn’t get too crowded with thread. As for the plain version, anchor the thread behind a nearby stitch before you start. Now the stitch starts to differ: rather than working from the centre outwards, work from the outside of the stitch inwards. This is because of the sequin: it’s much easier to push the needle through the small hole of the sequin from the front (where you can see what you’re doing) than it is from the back (where you’re a bit blind). Also make sure you place the sequin so that it curves downwards against the fabric. This will allow the stitches to lie flat against the curved sequin, rather than be stretched over its hollow side.

2 Proceed clockwise, still always working from the outside of the stitch back to the centre. Finish the stitch, and tuck the thread at the back of the stitch using the same method as for the plain eyelet.

Fancy seeing it stitched in action? Here’s a short video:

Fancy trying out your new skills? Here’s a selection of patterns to do just that:

Happy stitching!

Before you start, anchor the thread to a nearby stitch, on the back of the fabric.

1 This stitch is made of a series of simple straight stitches, so it’s actually a very straight forward stitch. Make sure that the stitches are always stitched in the same direction, and that horizontal stitches are worked column by column (as shown below), and vertical stitches are worked row by row. They must be stitched so close together that the fabric doesn’t show through the stitch. If you’re working on a large count fabric, and the coverage isn’t sufficient, increase the number of strands you’re working with (to make the stitches thicker).

2 Once the first column is stitched, move onto the next one – the pattern may or may not call for a change of colour at this stage. Follow the instructions provided on the pattern.

Fancy seeing it stitched in action? Here’s a short video:

Happy stitching!

Before you start, anchor the thread to a nearby stitch, on the back of the fabric.

1 Steps 1 & 2: bring the needle out to the front of the fabric, at the base of the stitch (A), and push it back through to the back of the fabric at the top of the stitch (B). The trick to keep this stitch looking lovely and curvy is to keep the thread nice and supple: don’t over tighten the thread. The next step is to tack this first stitch into place, so bring out the needle in (3) and push it back through the fabric in (4), to tack the first vertical stitch to that strand of fabric.

2 Now repeat the process (making sure each vertical stitch is a little looser than the previous one) for the next 2 vertical stitches to the right:

3 When the right side is done, repeat the process to the left to complete the stitch:

Fancy seeing it stitched in action? Here’s a short video:

Fancy trying out your new skills? Here’s a selection of patterns to do just that:

Happy stitching!

Before you start, anchor the thread to a nearby stitch, on the back of the fabric, using the loop method (if you’re stitching with 2 strands of cotton). If you’re stitching with 1 strand only, then stitch a couple of knots around the back of a nearby stitch.

1 The key to finishing any Rhodes stitch variation neatly is to save the vertical stitch for the very end. So to get the starting point for the stitch, we need to rewind back from the final stitch… and that gives us the bottom left corner of the butterfly:

Let’s get started, then: bring the needle out at the bottom left corner (1) and (looking at the full butterfly stitch) work out where the first stitch ends (2). There’s our first diagonal stitch. The next step is another diagonal stitch, which lies over the previous one, slightly slanted clockwise:

2 Keep going clockwise, making sure the stitches are as neat as possible, each overlapping the previous one and keeping the tension as even as possible so that none of the stitches are looser than the others. You really want to be using a hoop or a stitching frame for this.

3 By the time you reach the last stitch, the butterfly is so packed together that you may find it tricky to see the “19” and “20” holes. In that case, use a finger or another needle to gently nudge the previous stitches out of the way, so that you can see the relevant holes in the fabric:

Fancy seeing it stitched in action? Here’s a short video:

Fancy trying out your new skills? Here’s a selection of patterns to do just that:

Happy stitching!