How to begin

 

This is a series of three-sided boxes pulled tightly to secure the threads of the fabric on what will become a free edge of the fabric. Each leg of the stitch is stitched twice.

Use #12 perle cotton, single-strand (2 strands of floss will also work). Match the fabric as closely as possible.

Diagram One

When you are finished stitching end this by running under the backs of the stitches. If you pull as tightly as you should you may need a sharp needle to do this.

Creating a ditch

 

Withdraw the thread from the fabric right where you want the edge to be, leaving a ditch [a space between two threads of fabric, frequently made wider by with drawing a thread]. If you want the Nun's stitch to finish four sides of a piece, you will need to finish four sides of a piece, you will need to withdraw a fabric thread on all four sides.

Hold the fabric so the ditch you are working on is horizontal.

Diagram Two

1 - Bring the needle up in the ditch.
2 - Count 2 threads down and go down through the fabric. Come up again at 1
Whenever you enter pull tightly away from the ditch parallel with the fabric to tighten the stitch and pull the edge threads toward the body of the piece.
and go down again at 2.
3 - From 2 count 2 threads left and come up. Go down again at 2. Come up again at 3. Go down again at 2.
4 - From 1 count 2 threads left and come up in the ditch. On the back the thread running from 2 to 4 is the only diagonal stitch. If you have other diagonals, you are out of sequence.
4 is now 1 of a new sequence.

Repeat these steps across the fabric. Stop with a vertical stitch.

Changing a strand

 

Use a modified version of a waste knot.

Diagram Three

Back | Next Page >>