Chapter VIII: Darning Stitches

Darning is a very satisfactory sort of embroidery. In this work the greater part of the silk is laid on the right side of the material so that it carries large masses of color. Darning is generally considered a filling embroidery and is often used in background work. Backgrounds darned around a design may be made very artistic.

_A._ _=Simple Darning Stitch.=_--The simple darning stitch is a short stitch on the back and a long one on the face "running" on a straight line, the second row alternating with the first in the positions of the long and short stitches, and lying parallel to it. Care and practice are necessary to make these rows of equal tension. They should keep their straight direction and terminate where they meet the outline. There are ways of accommodating them to the outline when they are used within the design. See Fig. VIII _a_.

_B._ _=Brick Darning Stitch.=_--If it is desirable to increase the color effect the first series of rows may be crossed at right angles by a similar series. This is known as the "Brick Darning Stitch." The straight bars should be laid by darning one way and back, alternately. By a little planning very pretty coloring may be gained through relating the background shade to the imposed work. See Fig. VIII _b_.

_C._ _=Seed Stitch.=_--This may be considered a darning stitch, having however the short stitches on the surface and the long ones on the back. This is largely used in combination with satin stitch for lettering. (See Designs Nos. 612 A, B, D, E, and F.)

QUEEN ANNE STITCH.]

_D. =Queen Anne Stitch.=_--Another form of darning is the "Queen Anne Stitch." In this the silk is not sewed through the fabric but first laid in long parallel lines from side to side of the outline, then crossed at right angles by weaving in threads alternately. This is rather mechanical and not so artistic as the first method, though we may see very curious examples of it in the old English embroideries. See Fig. VIII _d_.