How to Stitch a Casalguidi

The Casalguidi stitch is one technique for producing raised embroidery on fabric, typically linen. Casalguidi can also refer to any Casalguidi embroidery style, which produces a raised, textured and rustic look and is named for a town in Italy where the techniques were developed during the 19th and 20th century embroidery revivals.

Instructions

1. Stretch your fabric to be embroidered in a hoop or frame. To follow the traditional method of the Casalguidi technique, use linen or other light, open weave fabric.

2. Create a base padding by couching a bunch of threads along the line that you want to embroider. The colors of these threads don't matter, because you'll cover them with other stitching.

3. Stitch along the entire couched base with a satin stitch in a neutral color of thread.

4. Lay foundation stitches at intervals of about 1/4 inch. Be careful not to make these stitches too tight where the couched padding has curves and bends so that the curves don't have sharp edges.

5. Use a tapestry needle to stitch a stem or chain stitch along the foundation lines in one direction only. The thread should go through the fabric itself only at the start and end of each row.

6. Pack each row down as you finish and avoid splitting the foundation stitches. The rows of stem stitching should be densely packed and have a solid, raised effect.

7. Create a neat finish by putting bullion knots on the ends of the stitch to cover them up. Bullion knots are the traditional finishing touch for the completed Casalguidi stitch.