Plaid Filling Stitch

How to do the Plaid Filling Stitch

The name Plaid Filling Stitch suggests that it is used for filling. It resembles the tartan patterns used in Scottish kilts. Laid threads are couched using Straight Stitches that give a rich effect. It gives ample scope to play with colors. Try to experiment with the couching of threads with a different number of Straight Stitches. You might come up with some interesting variations!

Fig 1: Lay threads in horizontal and vertical rows of Straight Stitches. Make sure that the horizontal rows are woven under and over the vertical ones.	Fig 2: Now, use a contrasting thread to make two Straight Stitches to couch two portions of laid threads at a time, as shown. Use continuous Running Stitches to achieve this easily.
Fig 3: Now, work the same way in a vertical fashion. You will see that the alternate square portions of the laid thread are filled by crossed-over couching threads.	Fig 4: A finished filled portion will come out like this.

Learn the Plaid Filling Stitch and 200 other stitches through our 450-page Hand Embroidery book.