Before we get started, let’s talk about stitch groups.   Stitches can be grouped in to seven distinct categories.  These include straight stitches, such as Double Brick; diagonal stitches, such as Byzantine; oblique such as Fly; crossed and slashed such as Cross stitch and Fishbone; eyelets such as Eyelet Variation; piled like Turkey; looped stitches such as Lazy Daisy and knot stitches such as French Knot.   Choosing from these different categories, you can create thousands of stitches and combinations.  You may have a pattern with one or more groups of stitches.   We will be talk about each of these in detail.

The first group will be straight stitches.  Straight stitches are any stitch that is worked horizontally or vertically to the parallel threads on the canvas.

Take a look at Double Brick.   You will see a series of straight stitches traveling up 4 canvas threads.  (Green stitch in graph)  Each stitch is paired up.  Double Brick is achieved by sewing a pair of stitches over 4 canvas threads, travel down 2 canvas threads and sew over 4 threads, go  back down 6 stitch over 4 threads.  Repeat the process.  

Let’s put our stitch in a box.   To create a straight line on the top and bottom of the graph, we have voids or empty spaces on the canvas that needs to be filled in.  Can you see 2 pair of empty canvas?  (Circled area on graph)  To fill in this area, we will create compensational stitches.

Now, let’s look at the next graph.   You will see red stitches.  Each stitch travels over 2 canvas threads.  We have now created partial or compensated stitches.  For this pattern, each void will require 2 stitches over 2 threads.

Our next graph will show a square which will require compensation over 1 canvas thread.  Work your stitches just like before but this time when compensating, stitch over 1 canvas thread.

In the graph, you will see the correct way to compensate.

You may be tempted to create a stitch which travels over 5 canvas threads.  Do not do this!  Yes, the canvas is covered but you have broken the pattern.  Remember, we want to use partial stitches not create new ones.

Rule:  Never create a longer stitch than what is required for the pattern.  A longer stitch will break up the pattern and make the eye see an error.

What would happen if we created Double Brick on an angle?  You will use different compensation stitches depending upon the need.  Look at the graph.  In this example, the compensations are traveling up 1 canvas thread. 

Whether you stitch Double Brick, Old Florentine or Hungarian, the rules are the same. Just like upright stitches such as Double Brick, straight stitches that lay horizontal will also apply to these rules.

 Rule:  If you are stitching Encroached Gobelin start at the top with a compensated row.  Continue to work downward until you have finished the row.  If needed, compensate the last row.