Van Dyke Stitch

The lines on this chart represent one fabric thread.

Click on the photo to see how this stitch was used in the free sampler.

• With the threaded needle come up at 1 and go down at 2,

• go under two fabric threads at 2,

• come up at 3 and go down at 4.  The 3 - 4 thread will cross over the previous stitch 1 - 2.  

• At 4 go to the left one or two fabric threads (it will depend on the fabric count and the thread size) and repeat the steps above for all the rest of the stitches.

• All  these stitches will go under the loop formed at the intersection of threads 3 - 4 crossing over 1 - 2.  

A Finer Point

After I added the photo of this stitch I realized you might have some difficulties following the stitching instructions. So let me try to explain, this is a great stitch for gold thread work as most of the thread is on top of fabric and what does get stitched through the fabric can be sent through a opening made by an awl or Mellore to reduce the wear and tear on the gold thread.

It can also be used  in the scrolling Elizabethan designs, those are the designs that have some type of flower with a vine encircling it. The vine starts out as a tendril and the Chain stitches at the beginning of the VanDyke stitch are a seamless way to move from the stem of a flower to the wider, broader vine of the design.

You do not have to start this stitch the way I have diagramed it, you can shorten the distance between steps 1 and 4 and steps 2 and 3.  Instead of skipping over six fabric threads you would skip over a smaller number, maybe two fabric threads, then one fabric thread. Take a few minutes to stitch a practice row on the edges of your embroidery or your doodle cloth. Try several variations over different number of fabric threads to find what you like the best. Do about 30 stitches and you will be rewarded with an excellent vine. To remove these stitches snip the straight stitches on the back of your work.

I used a hoop or straps on the side of the frame to hold the fabric taunt and I adjusted the stitches. I pushed the little cross over stitch up or down until I had a fairly straight line of the them. ©2001, Linda Fontenot, www.AmericanFolkArts.com  

             

A good example of Elizabethan designs

You do not have to start this stitch the way I have diagramed it, you can shorten the distance between steps 1 and 4 and steps 2 and 3. Instead of skipping over six fabric threads you would skip over a smaller number, maybe two fabric threads, then one fabric thread. Take a few minutes to stitch a practice row on the edges of your embroidery or your doodle cloth. Try several variations over different number of fabric threads to find what you like the best. Do about 30 stitches and you will be rewarded with an excellent vine. To remove these stitches snip the straight stitches on the back of your work.

I used a hoop or straps on the side of the frame to hold the fabric taunt and I adjusted the stitches. I pushed the little cross over stitch up or down until I had a fairly straight line of the them. ©2001, Linda Fontenot, www.AmericanFolkArts.com