Okay, I know that after yesterday's compelling post on needlepoint, all of my wonderful readers are just dying to know how to continue with needlepoint. Well today I will share with you the basket weave stitch. I have read that it is the "Holy Grail" of needlepoint stitches because of it's simplicity, canvas coverage, and ability to reenforce the canvas as well as not warp the canvas. For the purpose of our basket project it is one of three stitches that will be used to complete the basket. The other two stitches names are the whip stitch and the tent stitch. The basket weave stitch will cover 90% of our project so let's get to work.
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| Materials needed |
As I mentioned yesterday the materials you will need are worsted weight yarn, plastic canvas, a tapestry needle and a pair of scissors.
But before you start cutting canvas an marking patterns let's practice the basket weave stitch. Remember in part one, I mentioned that needlepoint is a craft that takes a lot of time. It is also a craft that if you foul up, you can't really just cover it up. You HAVE TO TAKE OUT ALL OF THE MISSED STITCHES. If you are like me then there is a good possibility you don't see your mistake until you have filled in 4 rows and going back is just as daunting as starting over. Don't let me scare you - this is fun - I PROMISE! Let's just start as we mean to go along.
The Basket Weave Stitch
- Cut a length of yarn no longer than your arm.
Now I know it is tempting to cut a longer piece of yarn; but there are reasons to using a shorter length of yarn. As you pull through the canvas again and again your yarn will "whittle" down if you will. If you cut 6' of yarn to work with not only will it get tangled but your stitches will look smaller by the time you are at the end of your piece of yarn in comparison to the beginning. So - a short length of yarn.
- Thread your tapestry needle
If you don't have a tapestry needle and you are considering using a regular sewing needle I beg of you to get a tapestry needle. You lower the risk of piercing through threads and the canvas with a tapestry needle, not to mention you won't poke your fingers with a tapestry needle. Also no doubling your yarn, your work will look crowded.
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| up from the back down from the front |
- Your first stitch will come UP from the back of your canvas and down through the hole that is immediately below, and diagonal.
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| working the 2nd & 3rd stitch |
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| completed second row |
- Your second and third stitches will be to the right and one row down, moving towards the left.
- Your 3rd row will be the same but with 3 stitches and moving left to right
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Row 3 worked in green for contrast
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Row 4
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- Row 4 down and left to right
You will just continue working the canvas this way until the area is filled. Eventually your space will look like this:
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| Large section filled with basket weave stitch. |
That is the basket weave stitch. Simple yet elegant. There are a few sites that may be able to explain the process better than me. Check out the American Needlepoint Guild site. There is lots of info there. My favorite find on that site is a needlepoint stitch used in Bargello needlepoint. It is called the round bargello stitch. I think it looks like a flower. I can't wait to incorporate it in a sampler.
Enjoy practicing the basket weave stitch. It won't take long to master it, and when you do filling in the panels on your own basket will be easy as pie.
