Wheat Stitch with Variations
Click on the picture for a free project that uses this stitch
Each line on this graph represents a fabric thread.
Wheat Ear 1The first diagram depicts the stitches in the row of cream perle cotton stitches above the top row of blue Cross Stitches, the top row of the photo is Van Dyke stitches.
To do the Wheat Ear #1 stitch, using #8 perle cotton:
Bring the threaded needle up at 1 and go down at 2,
Come up at 1 again and go down at 3,
Come up at 4 and form a loose loop by going under the stitch formed at 1-2 and at 1-3,
Tighten the loop, you will not want to pull any threads just take any slack out of the loop,
This stitch advances four fabric threads from step 1 for the new stitch.
Start this row of stitches on the right side of your sampler, as you get to the other edge of your embroidery, you can vary the number of threads you move over for new stitches if you are concerned about finishing on the exact edge of the embroidery.
There are a number of variations you can try with this stitch.
Each line on this graph represents one fabric thread.Wheat Ear 2
For instance, Wheat Ear #2 is the band of stitches below the bottom row of blue Cross Stitches in the photo above.
This variation works from right to left and the start of the next stitch advances two threads fabric threads to the left, then continue this stitch as before, bring the thread up at 1, go down at 2, come up at 1 again, go down at 3, bring the thread up at 4 and make a loose loop under the stitches at 1-2 and 1-3 and take the thread down at 4.
The new loop will go over the previous loop, but under the straight stitches. In other words, you will not slip your needle under everything as you form the new loop instead your threaded needle will come up at 4, go under the straight stitch at 1-2, over the loop that was formed in the previous stitch, and under the straight stitch at 1-3, then go down at 4.
Start this row of stitches on the right side of your sampler.
This variation changes the stitch significantly and creates a braid like the Van Dyke stitch.The Van Dyke braid is at the top of the photo. It would be an excellent coil in an Elizabethan designs like the one below. You could start the coil with a chain stitch and then add this stitch at a good design point. ©2001 Linda Fontenot www.AmericanFolkArts.com
