How to Make a Half Stitch Loop
Cross-stitching is a form of needlepoint enjoyed by many crafters. The technique uses many types of stitches to achieve different designs and appearances on the fabric base. The simplest stitch is a standard cross-stitch that appears as a small X on the fabric. The floss used for the stitching passes from the back of the fabric base through one of the holes in the fabric emerging through the top of the fabric and then skips one row of thread and moves up or down one row of thread before passing back through the fabric to reappear on the bottom of the fabric. The needle then moves one row of thread up or down and repeats the process leaving a small x on the front side of the fabric. A half stitch loop is another common stitch, also termed a conventional stitch, used in cross-stitching and you can perform them with the basic skills of needlepoint.
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Instructions
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Affix the fabric base within the embroidery hoops to hold the fabric tight and immobilize the section of fabric with which you are working. The size of hoops you choose should encompass the region of the fabric your pattern covers.
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Locate the point at which your stitch is to begin. The placement of stitches and designs on cross-stitch patterns is determined by counting the number of threads from an origin point on the fabric backing. The fabric used to hold the pattern is typically loose weave canvas, linen or small thread-count, cotton fabric.
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Thread a piece of embroidery floss or yarn depending on the material you are working with into the head of the cross-stitch needle. Pull the piece of thread through the head until you leave approximately 2 inches of thread hanging out the short side of the needle.
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Envision the crosshatch pattern of the fabric base as a pattern of crossing lines much like a piece of graph paper. Each point where the lines cross is numbered. To understand the pattern for placing a half stitch loop, you will work with a 3 by 3 line section of fabric. Begin numbering the crossing lines of fabric in the lower left corner of the fabric. Increase the numbers as you move across the fabric from left to right and then bottom to top. If you number the crossing lines of fabric correctly, they will read from bottom left to top right corner of the fabric section as 1, 2 and 3 on the lower thread of fabric and then 4, 5 and 6 on the next row of thread and finally on the upper thread it will read 7, 8 and 9. You will refer to each intersection point by the number listed here.
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Work from the back of the fabric. Place a single knot in the end of the long tail of floss or yarn. The knot will inhibit the end of the floss or yarn from pulling through the fabric.
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Place the tip of the needle into the hole on the lower left of intersection number 1 and pull the needle through to the top side of the fabric. Feed the floss or yarn with the needle until it is firmly in place and ensure the knot doesn’t pass through from the back.
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Move up on the fabric so that the point of the needle passes down through the hole to the upper right corner of intersection 5. Feed the thread after the needle down through the hole until it is completely through the fabric base. Continue stitches in this manner to create a row of half stitch loops. When you have finished the number of half stitches required, tie off the end of the floss or yarn on the bottom side of the fabric base.
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Tips & Warnings
Take time to tighten your stitches every once in a while as you work through your needlepoint project.
References
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