According to the Craft industry Alliance, “We’re seeing this trend pop up everywhere, from women’s sweaters and accessories to embellished items for kids.” One of the easiest ways to do this is a form of needlepoint — Duplicate Stitch.
This stitch mimics knitting (stockinette) by making Tent and Reverse Tent Stitches to match knitting. Here are some tips to help you.
- Pick a thread about the thickness and care as the knitting yarn. You might consider using some of the leftover knitting yarn (many knitters have tons of yarn odds and ends.
- If your yarn is thick, use a needle made to sew knitted pieces together. These are blunt-tipped and made for very thick yarns. You can also use a large plastic needle used for 7-count plastic canvas.
- Although you can use charts for duplicate stitch, knitting stitches are rectangular, not square. Some things, such as letters, will be distorted.
- Begin and end stitching threads by weaving them through the backs of the knitting stitches.
- Use loose tension. Knitting is soft and stretchy. Most knitters don’t use a hoop or frame for doing this. Your stitches should be loose, so it does not pucker the knitting.
- If using a chart one block on the chart equals two knitting stitches, either a “v” or an “a.”
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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