Cast On Stitch
Cast on stitch is used to create raised loops of thread in textured needlework techniques. It is often seen used today to create raised flower petals and leaves in highly textured work such as Brazilian embroidery.
For the best results with this stitch use a milliner's needle on a foundation fabric stretched in an embroidery hoop or frame.
To work this stitch bring your thread to the front of the fabric and partly make a tiny stitch bringing the needle out of the fabric close to where the thread emerged initially.
Leave the needle in the fabric. In other words do not complete the stitch.
Place the thread over your left index finger rotate your finger keeping the thread still over your finger but under tension.
This movement should create a loop around your finger.
Transfer the loop from your finger to the needle.
Slide the loop down the needle. This is the first cast on stitch.
This looping action and transferring the loop, is similar to casting on a row of stitches on a knitting needle hence the name.
Work a number of cast on stitches, gently sliding them down the needle as you go.
Keep them evenly spaced for best results.
When you have the required number of stitches cast on to the needle hold the cast on stitches with the fingers on your left hand and pull the thread with your right hand, through the cast on stitches.
Take the needle to the back of the fabric and pull firmly to create the loop.
The curve of the loop depends upon the number of cast on stitches you use and distance between the point where the thread emerged from the back of the fabric and the point where the thread entered the fabric. The higher the number of cast on stitches the bigger the loop.
In this illustration cast on stitches are used to crate a row of pansy's on a seam embellishment in a crazy quilt block. The full block may be viewed here
