Long-Arm Cross Stitch
Part of the Cross stitch family
Long-armed Cross is also known as Slav stitch, long legged cross stitch, plaited Slav stitch, Greek stitch, Portuguese stitch, and twist stitch.
This is often seen as a canvas stitch but it can be worked in a fine thread, as a filling, on linen or Aida.
On even weave fabrics it can be used also as a border stitch. Any type of embroidery thread can be used as long as it is compatible with the fabric or canvas.
Long armed Cross is simple and quick to work as it consists of one diagonal stitch twice the length of the short cross stitch.
Work from left to right.
Start the row with a cross stitch.In the illustration I have worked over four threads.
Bring your needle out at the base of the cross on the left hand side.
Take your thread obliquely over, in this case eight threads, and down through the fabric to make a stitch which is twice the width of the first cross stitch.
Bring your needle out at the base of the row and make a diagonal stitch the width of your cross stitch.
Bring your needle out at the base and make another oblique stitch.
Continue in this manner until you have completed the row.
Cross Stitch Family.
Cross stitch is based on the simple action of crossing one thread against the other. This action in stitching has been used around the globe since the beginning of textile history. For this reason, there are many variations to Cross stitch and some listed here. They are Alternating cross stitch, Rice stitch, Double cross stitch, Long arm cross stitch and Montenegrin. There are many more.
