What Are Open Needlepoint Stitches?
Open needlepoint stitches are decorative techniques that let some of the canvas show through. This creates a lighter, more airy effect compared to full-coverage stitches.
Where to Use Open Needlepoint Stitches?
Open stitches are great for backgrounds. They add texture and visual interest to needlepoint projects, especially if you have a large space to fill, since most open stitches form a pattern that needs space to develop.
Open stitches can be decorative. They can also represent features like water or waves.
Popular Open Stitches:
1. Skip Tent Stitch:
We use this a lot! It's so versatile, as both a background stitch and for small areas. The Skip Tent stitch is simply a Tent stitch in which every other canvas hole is left unstitched. It forms a pretty lace-like effect and an overall pattern that works anywhere.
The upper background on Born To Be Wild uses a Skip Tent stitch.
A relative of the Skip Tent stitch is a Skip Cross Stitch and we have used this on the background to the Nutcracker Soldier.
2. Decorative stitch variations.
Many needlepoint stitches can be easily altered to make them "open". This is a popular technique that any stitcher can experiment with.
On this Vase of Flowers design we modified the Alternating Mosaic stitch (center of the white flowers) to make it open and give it more texture. (And we used a Skip Tent open stitch on the background).
3. Open Darning Patterns
These are stitches that are created using a darning or weaving technique, like the Raindrops open stitch, above, and this diamond pattern beach wrap on the St Tropez design...
Securing Threads With Open Stitches:
Anchoring your thread can be challenging with open stitches if they are not surrounded by full-coverage stitches. The blog post Taming Needlepoint Threads offers some techniques for securing the ends of threads.
Why We Love Open Stitches:
- They create texture and interest.
- They add prominence to a feature.
- They can "suggest" different textures or materials, such as water or foliage.
- They work well for larger areas where full coverage might be too heavy or time-consuming.
- They are usually quicker to stitch.
- There are so many open stitches to choose from, or create yourself, that they "open" up (sorry) a whole new world of needlepoint exploration.
Want a great book with over 125 darning stitches?
It Is About Darn Time needlepoint darning book by Sharon G. (2015)
Experiment with open stitches on your next needlepoint project. See our collection of needlepoint kits that use one or more open stitches.
