Cretan Stitch

Cretan stitch is a creative filling stitch often used for leaves and petals in the traditional embroidery. Persian stitch, quill stitch and long-armed feather stitch are other names of this stitch. It is versatile enough to insert beads and sequins. It is worked by inserting the needle from the right of the center of the design. Needle should be inserted onto the line of the design on the left side,pointing inwards. Keep the thread below the needle point and bring out again from the left center. In the next step, needle is to be brought through the right side of the design line and again inserting it to the center right. This process is to be continued till the area is completely filled.

 

The stitch appears as short vertical straight lines at equal distance which give a neat and clean look. This stitch is been used by women since ages to decorate their apparels. Cretan stitch can also be worked openly by stitching the stitches slightly apart. Close stitches result in a closed stitch with plait at the center of the pattern. This stitch is generally worked along parallel lines or within a design of crewel embroidery.

Altering the slant of the needle can result in beautiful effects which are often created by needle workers. It is a creative stitch which is mostly worked to fill a desired shape or pattern. Beautiful borders with flowers or leaves embroidery patterns are usually created with this stitch. The created shape appears as a close plaiting. It is popularly used in crazy quilting also.