How to make a three-quarter stitch (for cross stitch)

A TUTORIAL BY CREATIVE POPPY ILLUSTRATED WITH A PATTERN BY PERRETTE SAMOUILOFF 

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What is a three-quarter (cross) stitch?

There are two ways to look at it.

- Finished it looks like a regular cross stitch truncated in one corner

- If you are stitching, it's simply a quarter stitch combined with a half stitch



Compare:
Cross stitch and Three-quarter stitch

What's the point of three quarter stitches in a design?

When used sparingly, it's a very useful stitch that will add a lot to a cross stitch design. It will help smooth and define the outlines of certain elements such as people and animals.


Here is an example of . See that sharp tip? One single tree quarter stitch for the tip makes the whole difference. A full cross stitch would never have achieved the same effect.





Where the beach meets the sea (small pattern)
designed by Perrette Samouiloff

And now, see the beauty of this stitch!

These pretty seagulls each have a fine beak worked with a three-quarter stitch. The whole pattern only uses 4 quarter stitches but see how this works for each of the birds!



Close-up on the four seagulls - "Where the beach meets the sea" (large pattern), a design by Perrette Samouiloff



How do you stitch a three-quarter stitch?

First locate the corner where the stitch is positioned.
Here is the example a quarter stitch in the bottom-lefthand corner.

Step 1: Start with a quarter stitch.
Bring your needle up in the bottom-left corner and - instead of completing the half stitch - insert your needle halfway, right in the center. If stitching on Aida you will need to pierce the Aida (see below). Step2: Complete the other half stitch.



Stitching a three-quarter stitch on Aida:


Step 1: Quarter stitch
Step 2: Half stitch

When stitching on Aida, you will need to pierce through the center of the fabric, opening the weave of the fabric.

Stitching a three-quarter stitch on Linen or Evenweave:


Step 1: Quarter stitch
Step 2: Half stitch

When stitching on evenweave, over two threads, you can simply insert your needle halfway, going over one warp and weft thread instead of two. Work step two (halfstitch) over two threads.

Note: It is not possible to complete a three quarter stitch when stitching over one thread.




How do you recognize a three quarter stitch on a chart?

Here’s a close-up of the bird’s beak, as it looks on the chart and how it would be stitched.
This quarter stitch is positioned in the bottom-left corner next to a full cross stitch.


Color chart
Black and white chart
Actual stitches

- In a color chart the stitch would be represented as a triangle, so it’s very easy to locate.

- In a black and white chart, a miniature symbol is often used. The symbol is the same as for the regular cross stitch of the same color but it's smaller and positioned in one of the corners.


Direction of three-quarter stitches

It's important first to locate the stitches, then to notice in which direction the three quarter stitch is rotated. Which corner of the cross stitch does it cover? A three-quarter stitch can be positioned in the top-left, top-right, bottom left or bottom-right corner.



Can you see the four quarter stitches in this pattern? The first two positioned in the bottom left corner, the other two in the top right, therefore achieving opposite effects.



That’s all for now. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us