How to do the Split Stitch - Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials

Split Stitch is also known as

Punto partido_[ES], Point de tige fendu _[FR], Spaltstich _[DE], Punto diviso / Punto spaccato _[IT], Ponto partido / Ponto corrente _[PT], Klyvsöm _[SV].

Split Stitch a very old stitch used for outlining and filling in colors for patterns.

Looking back into history, the Split stitch has its popularity placed at a high during the medieval ages in England. The needlework of this time was called Opus Anglicanum.This medieval English needlework comprised of the generous use of split stitch for fillings in a motif along with the ‘underside couching’ method of embroidery. It covers the whole cloth on which it is worked and leaves negligible space for a background. So, we can say that the history of the Split stitch is akin to the history of Opus Anglicanum.

Origins
Opus Anglicanum was done mainly for the purpose of the rich and powerful churches of the medieval ages. Though it was used otherwise too, only a very few of its kind has survived. The information has it that they were mainly done by nuns or anyone with seven years of apprenticeship in a secular workshop. It was also popularly done among the Anglo-Norman ladies. This was a time when embroidery work was viewed as a highly-skilled artwork at par with other art forms like stained glass work, sculpture, architecture and, silver and gold metalwork. In fact, it was considered to be of higher esteem than fine art.

Popularity
This embroidery was done with fine silk and gold threads. Not only was it done with expensive materials, but it was labor-intensive as well. This made the garments very expensive, so much so, that it went on to become a status symbol for the religious leaders and royalties. From the mid-1200s to mid-1300s, the fine embroidery of England was exported all over Europe and Opus Anglicanum was at its height. Great profits were made by the merchants who hired laborers for this expensive embroidery work. However, the great value of these garments also led to its destruction. When the older garments wore out or were no longer in use, the gold threads and other expensive embellishments would be pulled out and used in new creations. Opus Anglicanism used exceptionally high-quality materials and was done by highly skilled artisans.

Decline
The decline of Opus Anglicanum was seen from 1348, after the Black Death. The country saw general unrest with a high decline in population. The time was ripe for newer techniques and materials to invade the textile and embroidery scene. Materials from Italy were used and embroidery work reduced to just borders or applied pieces. Weaving took more importance than embroidery. Cheaper and quicker ways of stitching embroidery came into being. Satin stitch, brick stitch, long and short stitch, surface couching and stem stitch slowly replaced the tiny and laborious split stitch.

How to do the Split Stitch


Fig 1: Bring out the thread through A and put it in through B	Fig 2: Take the needle backward to bring it out through C. Note that C lies halfway between A and B.

Fig 3: While bringing out the thread through C, take it in between the thread, splitting it into two.	Fig 4: Again, put the needle in through D to bring it out through B, splitting the thread.

Fig 5: Continue this procedure to finish the stitch. The only thing to keep in mind is to split the thread when bringing the needle out. In some way, it will give you a visual feel of chain stitch.

Fig 6: The reverse of the fabric will give you a back stitch pattern.