Updated August 21, 2020.
Because I’m from relatively humid and damp Western Pennsylvania, I didn’t much like stucco until I moved to California. In Pittsburgh’s climate, stucco just couldn’t stand up to the conditions, so it always chipped, cracked, and looked dirty.
It was only after I moved to the West Coast that I began to appreciate just how wonderful and durable this material can be.
It was used to cover the adobe bricks of missions in California and throughout the Southwest. You find it on many homes, new and old. In the East, where you might find brick, in California, you’ll find stucco.
There are many different ways to stitch stucco and they give different levels of texture; two are in 25 Stitches for Buildings class (buy it here). Four-way Continental, below, is wonderful when you want a textured surface without variation in color.
Yes, the texture is much greater than real stucco, but it gives that nubby, textured look of the real thing when seen up close.
If you are using this stitch for stucco, keep the stitch pattern consistent, even if the color changes.
When using a multi-colored or semi-shaded thread, always stitch in straight lines.
IF you have architectural accents on your stitched building, stitch them in Tent or Reverse Tent; the smooth texture will make them stand out.
You can easily check if your Four-way Continental is staying on track. All stitches on the same type of intersection will slant the same way.
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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