Needlepoint Border Sampler Double Upright Cross

Usually we think of borders as being completely stitched or made up of a single stitch. Often that’s true but it doesn’t have to be.

The top border shows how a single dramatic, but easy stitch can be arranged prettily to make an open border. It also shows how any border can be set apart by simple Tent Stitch rows.

For this border you will need:

• overdye
• metallic
• accent thread (model uses pink Very Velvet)

Begin by making two rows of Tent Stitch, leaving an open thread between them. Because the final width of this border (and the sampler) is determined by the width of the pattern fir the main part of the border, make it shorter than you think you will need. After the Double Upright Cross Pattern is stitched, you’ll lengthen these lines and fill in the open thread.

The main part of the border is stitched in Double Upright Cross. The stitch, below, has an Upright Cross, going over four threads, crossed by a regular Cross Stitch, going over two threads. A single stitch is on the left. You can see how great it looks in a block on the right.

Find the center of the border and make a column of three Double Upright Crosses. Make one more of these stitches on either side of the middle stitch. This completes the center motif of the border, below.

There are three motifs on either side of the center. There are five open threads between each motif.

Stitch the remainder of the motifs.

If needed adjust the length of the rows of metallic to match the length of the Double Upright Cross Pattern exactly. Fill in the open thread between them with a row of Tent using the overdye.

Repeat this pattern at the bottom of the border.

Your first border is done!

Come back next week for another great border in this free sampler project.