Stitched leaves often employ a fan style stitch where most of the thread goes from points on the rim of the leaf into a single hole where it joins the stem. This can easily be converted to a loop stitch using the same holes but having much less thread on the back of the card.
The above diagram shows a typical fan stitch leaf (leaf 1) and the same leaf stitched using a loop stitch (stitch 2).
The stitching sequence for leaf 1 is as follows:
“Out at” means starting on the back of the card, through the hole to the front.
“In at” means from the front of the card, through the hole to the back.
Out at A in at B.
Out at A in at 1.
Out at 2 in at A.
Out at 3 in at A.
Out at 4 in at A.
Out at 5 in at A.
Out at 6 in at A.
Out at 7 in at A.
Working from side to side helps keep the thread flatter at hole A.
I have kept the numbers/letters in the same place on leaf 2 for this explanation. I have also drawn the thread from A to B in red for clarity, on leaf 2.
The stitching sequence for leaf 2 is as follows:
Out at A in at B.
Out at A in at 1.
Out at 2, under the stitch at A-B and in at 3.
Out at 5, under the stitch at A-B and in at 4.
Out at 6, under the stitch at A-B and in at 7.
I have stitched the leaf both ways to show the difference.
You can see from the back view that leaf 2 uses less thread on the back of the card.
The loop stitch was originally demonstrated by Dutch designer Joke de Vette in her book “Er op uit met borduren op papier” published in 1999.
This article was inspired by a thread by in the Form-A-Lines Forum, started by Katharine, on the subject of loop stitches.
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