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Straight stitches · Beginner

Pavilion stitch

Upright stitches over two, four, six and four threads, building diamonds six threads tall that interlock row to row.

Pavilion stitch: the finished stitch on canvas, 18 stitches, all upright, in two colors
The finished stitch on canvas. Every stitch runs from one hole to another; the two colors are only there to tell the stitches apart. In the steps, new stitches are red, and the numbers give the order: up at an odd number, down at the next even one.

How to work it

  1. Work two, four, six, four

    Pavilion stitch, step 1: the first four stitches on the canvas. Numerals 1 to 4 mark the ends of the first two new stitches, in working order.

    Work upright stitches over two, then four, then six, then four threads, each centered on the same line.

  2. Repeat across the row

    Pavilion stitch, step 2: nine stitches on the canvas, the five this step adds in red.

    Repeat the sequence across: the stitch over two is shared between neighboring diamonds.

  3. Shift the next row

    Pavilion stitch, step 3: 18 stitches on the canvas, the nine this step adds in red.

    On the next row, start four threads lower and shift two stitches along, so the longest stitch falls under the shortest.

At a glance

Also called
pavilion diamonds, Hungarian diamond stitch
Used for
two-color diamond patterns; backgrounds; large areas
Coverage
Full, with a thread a little thicker than for tent stitch
Direction
Upright
Stitch length
Over 2, 4 or 6 canvas threads

Pavilion makes diamonds six threads tall. It is a large pattern, so it needs a large area to show, and it works up a background quickly.

Pavilion is Hungarian stitch on a bigger scale: upright stitches that step up to a peak and down again, with more steps in each diamond. Some sources call it Hungarian diamond or upright diamond.

Its size varies from source to source. The diamond on this page runs over two, four and six threads, and one shop charts it a thread shorter, over one, three and five.

Tips

  • Work alternate rows in two colors for a wallpaper-like pattern.

When it goes wrong

Canvas shows between the upright stitches.
Upright stitches cover less well than slanted ones. Add strands or use a thicker thread, and use a laying tool when there are several strands in the needle.
The pattern does not read.
Pavilion needs space. One teacher's rule for any patterned stitch is that three repeats should fit in the area. If they do not, choose a smaller stitch.

Variations

  • Tied pavilion. One stitch reference shows a larger diamond with a center stitch over eight threads, held down across the middle by a short horizontal stitch. It notes that the tie can be left out, and that a smaller diamond of five stitches starts from a center over six threads.

Questions

Is pavilion stitch the same as Hungarian diamond stitch?
Yes, going by published instructions: those under both names describe the same graduated diamonds of upright stitches.
How long is the longest stitch?
Six canvas threads in the version on this page. One guide to canvas stitches gives six as the most a satin stitch should cover, because longer stitches are apt to snag.

Where to go next

Stitches

Guides