God’s Eye Stitch

God’s Eye Stitch is also known as

Ojo de Dios [ES].


About the God’s Eye Stitch

This stitch is technically similar to the Whipped Spider Wheel Stitch. The only difference lies in the base of straight stitches around which weaving is done. The God’s Eye Stitch is made of two straight stitches that lie over each other to form a cross. After whipping around the four arms of the cross, one arm will remain extended.

This stitch is inspired by a technique used to make an ancient symbol by the Huichol Indians of Mexico and the Aymara Indians of Bolivia. This symbol represents the ability to see and understand the unseen, and so like the eye of God. They use two sticks in the shape of a cross around which the weaving is done using colorful threads and wool. In Mexico, the central eye is made when a child is born, adding a bit to it each year, and finishing it up when the child turns five. In Bolivia, this work was placed on the altar so that the gods could watch over and protect the people.


How to make the God’s Eye Stitch

To make this stitch, it is an advantage if you know the stitch technique to whipped spider wheel.

Fig 1: Start by making a cross with two straight stitches, A-B and C-D, as shown. It looks like a Christian cross.Fig 2: Now, bring out the needle with a different color from one of the four corners of the cross, as shown. Then, we start whipping around each arm of the cross, taking back stitches.
Fig 3: Continue the process of taking back stitches and whipping around each arm till the top three arms are completely filled. The lower arm will remain extended and unfilled in the lower portion.Fig 4: A completed God’s Eye Stitch will look like this. A bigger cross would show clearer features. Using wool or perle cotton thread to whip around the cross would make the stitch look neater and more enhanced.

Learn the stitches from our Hand Embroidery Book

Learn the God’s eye Stitch and 200 other stitches through our 450-page Hand Embroidery book.


Related Stitches from the Woven Stitch Family

woven_circle_index

Woven Circle

woven_oval_index

Woven Oval

woven_spider_wheel_index

Woven Spider’s Wheel

whipped_spider's_wheel_index

Whipped Spider’s

god's_eye_stitch

God’s Eye Stitch

weaving_stitch_index

Weaving Stitch

woven_trellis_stitch_index

Woven Trellis Stitch

woven_bars_index

Woven Bar

 

34 Responses

  1. d
    dolly says:

    hi sarah, the way which u have explained is very good. I am very thankful to u. i have learned many things from u. thank u so much.

  2. s
    shwetha says:

    Hi Sarah,

    Tutorials are too good and very informative. I appreciate your patience and interest in pen down the detail and step by step with pictures. Keep posted. Thank you.

    Regards,
    Shwetha

  3. r
    ramya says:

    Hi sarah,

    Do u know about aari work? aari work with some special needles to be used on neck designs in blouses and chudithars and also in sarees. will u give information about it?

  4. r
    ramya says:

    hi sarah,

    I was so excited on seeing ur embroidery tutorials. It was really very very nice. I am very much eager to learn emboideries. U r going to be my tutor. Thanks a lot.

  5. a
    anu says:

    hi…

    will u plzz add some technique for phulkari , zardozi and kashida.

    tough i love all you techniques.. amazzing 😀

    thanxxz

    • sarah says:

      Dear Anu,
      Your requests are kept in mind. We are trying to put as many traditional embroideries as we can in our tutorial. Since each tutorial page takes a ot of research, effort and time to be made, it might not happen immediately, but will surely. So, you might have to wait a bit.
      We appreciate your interest shown. 🙂

  6. S
    Sheetal says:

    Such a wonderful website !!!!
    Your tutorials are just superb !!!
    I will learn so many things from your site…….
    THANKS A LOT DEAR FOR SHARING IT!!!

  7. Hello Sarah– I wanted you to know how much I’ve enjoyed learning so many new stitches from your thoughtful and easy to follow tutorials! I’ve blogged about a small sampler I did as a result of your fine instruction. You can find it here:

    http://wp.me/poLK3-Xe

    Thank you so much,

    Ellen

  8. R
    Rani says:

    Hi.. sarah

    Thank you soo much for this website u created. I have developed interest in stitching after i went through your website. Great work..

    Thank you

  9. Great site with so many wonderful instructions! I’m definitely bookmarking. I appreciate all the work that went into the tutorials. You are doing a wonderful job.

    Ellen

  10. D
    Dheepika says:

    HI..
    This is a very useful website i have ever gone thru… thanks for the simple yet effective ideas given

  11. Maria Cecilia Barreto Ferreira says:

    Parabens, teu blog é lindo e todo o teu trabalho tambén, abraços,
    Cecilia

  12. a
    alcena c v c says:

    Very beautiful your blog loved sewing classes!
    congratulations be with God.

    http://alcenacvc.blogspot.com/

    http://www.facebook.com/alcena.cvc

  13. C
    Christine says:

    Hi Sarah
    I am trying to make myself a waist training corset and would like to secure the ends of the bones the way they used to in Victorian times. I believe its called flossing. What is the best stitch to use for this, that is also decorative and will give a better look than just plain bone casings.

    Thanks
    Christine

    • sarah says:

      Dear Christine,
      I am sorry to be late in replying to you as I was away on a long vacation for a close relative’s wedding.
      I went through your query, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to be of much help to you since I am not much familiar with training corsets, or what stitch could it possibly use. I hope you find this information from a better and a more reliable source.

  14. R
    Reshma says:

    Thanks for all your uploads. its really very helpful. Can u please provide mirror work and other traditional embroideries too?

    • sarah says:

      Dear Reshma,
      Thanks for showing interest to learn more, as we always apreciate it. 🙂 We are working towards providing as many Indian and other traditional embroideries as possible. Since makin a tutorial takes a lot of effort, research and time, it might not happen immediately, but as soon as it is possible for us. We keep your request in mind. So, look forward to the many lessons to come. 🙂

  15. A
    Anita Valenzuela says:

    can i subscribe 2 this website????would like to get changes and also not forget your site…Thank you…please reply…

    sincerely, anita

  16. m
    maham says:

    thnx for the upload…it ws really helpful 🙂

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