This stitch is an open variation of the cretan stitch. It gives a very spaced out look and defines the features of the cretan stitch clearly. It can be used imaginatively as a motif stitch or otherwise.

You need to know the cretan stitch to be able to do this stitch.

I will be working between four stitch lines A, B, C, D, to illustrate this stitch.

Fig 1: We start by bringing the needle out from B, taking it in through D and out again through C.  Keep the needle above the thread as shown.		Fig 2:  Now take the needle in through A and out from B, with the needle above the thread, as shown. Remember to keep the points spaced out enough to give it an open look.
		Fig 3: A finished row would look like this.

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Tags: closed cretan stitch, cretan stitch, crete, crewel embroidery, feather stitch, filling stitch, greece, long armed feather stitch, persian stitch

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This stitch is used to fill in simple patterns like leaves. It uses the same technique as the cretan stitch with each stitch close to each other to fill in gaps.

If you know the cretan stitch, it will be an advantage.

I will work between four stitch lines to demonstrate this stitch. Each stitch line is named A, B, C, D.

Fig 1: Bring your needle out from A, taking it in through D and then out again through C. All these stitch points lie in a straight line. Keep the needle above the thread, as shown.		Fig 2: Now, take the needle in through A and out through B, keeping the needle above the thread. A and B would be in a straight line.
Fig 3: Keep up with this process of taking the needle in through the outer stitch lines and back out through the inner stitch lines, keeping each stitch point adjacent to each other.		Fig 4: The final result wil be as shown. You can see a braided effect running through the middle of the entire filling.

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Tags: closed cretan stitch, cretan stitch, crete, crewel embroidery, feather stitch, filling stitch, greece, long armed feather stitch, persian stitch

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Also known as: Persian stitch, Long armed feather stitch

This stitch is used as a filling stitch, especially in crewel embroidery. Various effects can be produced by altering the angle of the stitches or even closing them in or opening them out. This stitch can be worked from top to bottom, left to right, or even right to left, based on convenience and requirement.

I will be working top to bottom, between four stitch lines A, B, C, D to illustrate this stitch and its variations.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through B. Take the needle in through D and out through C. D should be slightly below the point in B. Now keeping the thread under the needle, pull the needle out.		Fig 2: Now, repeat the process on the other half. Take the needle in through A, bring it out from B, and keeping the thread under the needle, pull it out. Make sure A is slightly below D.
		Fig 3: Keep repeating this process on either sides. A finished pattern shoudl look like this. I have spaced it out slightly more to show the features clearly.
		variation 1: This is a variation to show the slight visual change made by making the two stitch lines in the centre spaced apart. That is, B and C are spaced far off.
		variation 2: This illistration shows a variation where there are only three stitch lines A,B,C. The stitches in the centre fall on either side of the stitch line B, bringing out a different visual effect. The stitch technique, however, remains the same.
		variation 3: This illustration shows how a pattern can be filled using the cretan stitch. It also demonstrates a different visual effect by altering the slant in the stitches.

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Tags: cretan stitch, crewel embroidery, feather stitch, filling stitch, long armed feather stitch, persian stitch

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