Great Stitches for Triangles and Circles

Today we’ll finish stitching the triangles and stitch two of the circles. Next Thursday I’ll finish up with the remaining circles and the background. Remember this canvas is being used as a scrap project. I’m using threads from my stash for it. The triangles took less than 3 yards of thread. The circles took less than a yard.

Triangles and Other Shapes

The two triangles are stitched using Long & Short Stitch, below. It’s a form of Gobelin where the look alternates between long and short stitches. The key is how you set up the first row. These stitches should alternate between long and short (bottom row). Once this is set up correctly, all the later rows have stitches the same length. This creates the correct structure of the stitch.

You can also use Long & Short in areas of any shape. The petal below has shows this stitch in process.

Small Circles

An expanded Splayed Cross, below, was used for the silver circle. Because the circle was uneven additional stitches had to be added between the Oblong Crosses.

An even circle is important when using this stitch. it creates very pretty circles. However, if the sides of the circle painted on canvas can make it necessary to add, modify, or subtract stitches.

This stitch is great for small circles and was used for the eyes in this Annie Lane canvas.

Rhodes Stitch Circles

Rhodes Stitch, named for the great stitcher Mary Rhodes, is a method more than a stitch. The individual stitches that create the stitch go from side to side in a single stitch. You begin with the stitch after where you want to end and go around the perimeter towards the desired ending stitch.

It’s far easier than it looks but if you aren’t used to doing it, try this Rhodes Stitch Heart, a free pattern, to get lots of practice.

The diagram below shows a square Rhodes but it illustrates the process.