Tent stitches · Beginner
Continental stitch
The basic needlepoint stitch worked in straight rows. Each stitch slants up to the right over one canvas intersection.
How to work it
Come up at the right end of the row
Start at the right end of the row. Bring the needle up one hole below and to the left of where the stitch will end.
Cross one intersection
Go down one hole up and to the right, crossing one canvas intersection.
Repeat, working right to left
Come up in the hole to the left of where you started and repeat, working right to left.
Work the row back
At the end of the row, turn the canvas upside down and work back the same way, so you are always moving right to left. Or leave the canvas as it is and work back left to right with the stitch reversed: up at the upper right, down at the lower left.
At a glance
- Also called
- tent stitch
- Used for
- outlines and single rows; lettering; small areas
- Coverage
- Full; firm, padded back
- Direction
- Slanted up to the right
- Stitch length
- Over 1 intersection
On the back, continental leaves long slanted stitches, which pads the piece and wears well. The cost is that every stitch pulls the canvas the same way, so a large area in continental drifts out of square. Use it for outlines, lettering and rows too narrow for basketweave, and switch to basketweave for anything bigger than a few rows.
Tips
- Keep an even, relaxed tension. Pulling tight makes the distortion worse.
- Stitch on stretcher bars or a frame to keep the canvas square.