Creating a diagonal line in cross stitch involves working individual diagonal stitches (often called half stitches) sequentially along the path indicated by your pattern chart.
Understanding the Stitch Basics
Before stitching a diagonal line, it helps to understand how individual stitches are formed within the square grid of your fabric. Imagine a single square on your Aida or linen fabric, with four corners:
- 1: Bottom left corner
- 2: Upper right corner
- 3: Lower right corner
- 4: Upper left corner
A standard, full cross stitch typically involves passing the thread through these points to create two overlapping diagonal lines, often done in two steps (e.g., first all the "/" strokes, then all the "\" strokes, or completing each "X" stitch by stitch). Following the point notation from the reference: If the bottom left corner of your stitch is 1, the upper right corner is 2, lower right is 3, and upper left is 4, then a full "normal" stitch is 1, 2, 3, 4.
Working the Diagonal Stitch (Half Stitch)
To create the individual stitch that forms part of a diagonal line, you will make a single diagonal pass across the square. This is often done using the points 1 and 2. According to the reference:
To work the diagonal you'd go 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 till you reached the end of your diagonal line.
This means for each individual diagonal stitch:
- Bring your needle up through point 1 (bottom left).
- Take your needle down through point 2 (upper right).
- You have completed one diagonal stitch (a half stitch).
You would then move to the next square on your pattern chart that forms the diagonal line and repeat this 1-to-2 stitching motion.
Stitching the Diagonal Line
To form a continuous diagonal line:
- Follow your cross stitch chart, identifying the squares that lie along the diagonal path.
- For each square designated for the diagonal line, work a single diagonal stitch by bringing the needle up at the bottom left (1) and down at the upper right (2).
- Continue this process for every square along the marked diagonal path on your chart.
By repeating the 1-to-2 movement for each stitch in sequence along the chart's diagonal design, you create the visual representation of a diagonal line on your fabric.
Summary of Diagonal Stitching:
- Identify the diagonal path on your chart.
- For each square on the path, stitch from bottom left (1) to upper right (2).
- Repeat this 1-to-2 action for every stitch required to complete the line.
This method allows you to build diagonal elements within your cross stitch project, whether they are standalone lines, outlines, or part of larger filled areas using half stitches.
