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Scotch stitch

Slanted square blocks of graduated diagonals that tile like woven tiles — a bold, textured filling stitch. Also called Cushion stitch.

Framed needlepoint canvas spelling SCOTCH in scotch stitch
The beauty portrait — the stitch spelled in its own texture. Same frame and crop across every stitch in the library.

What the texture looks like

Worked up close: slanted square blocks of graduated diagonals, tiling like woven tiles across the canvas.
Difficulty
Ready for more  A bold, blocky filler.
Appearance
Slanted square blocks, like little woven tiles.
Coverage
Good. The long center stitch can snag, so go gentler in high-wear pieces.
Good for
Borders · geometric fills · textured backgrounds · checkerboards.
You'll need
Tapestry needle · one thread color · 13-mesh canvas (canvas with 13 holes per inch).
Exactly how to make it

One square block at a time

Completed stitches are shown in blush, the stitch you're making now in red, and the next hole to come up through is circled in blue. Five diagonals — over 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 — make one block.

1
Step 1 — Come up at 1, go down at 2 — a short diagonal over one intersection.12
Come up at 1, go down at 2 — a short diagonal over one intersection.
2
Step 2 — Come up at 3, go down at 4 — a longer one over two, from the same edge.34
Come up at 3, go down at 4 — a longer one over two, from the same edge.
3
Step 3 — Come up at 5, go down at 6 — the long center diagonal, over three — corner to corner.56
Come up at 5, go down at 6 — the long center diagonal, over three — corner to corner.
4
Step 4 — Come up at 7, go down at 8 — back down: over two again.78
Come up at 7, go down at 8 — back down: over two again.
5
Step 5 — Come up at 9, go down at 10 — over one to finish. Five stitches make one slanted square block.910
Come up at 9, go down at 10 — over one to finish. Five stitches make one slanted square block.
This is normal: counting 1-2-3-2-1 feels slow at first. After a block or two your eye finds the square and you stop counting.
What yours should look like

Front and back

Front — identical slanted square blocks, all worked the same direction, tiling like woven tiles.
Back — carries stepping between blocks.

Common mistake — and the fix

Keep the five stitches in order — over 1, 2, 3, 2, 1. If the center diagonal isn’t the longest, the block won’t square up and the tiles won’t line up.

Keep going

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Pairs well with: MosaicBrickSatin
Written for absolute beginners, in plain language.
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