When to Use the Half-Cross Stitch
This stitch used for tiny detail areas. I mean, really tiny, like one stitch for a highlight or an eye. This stitch has very little coverage. If it looks thin, I will often stitch back over the stitch again to make the detail pop.
- Pros: This stitch is quick and uses the least amount of thread.
- Cons: It can distort the canvas and look quite thin. It is not very sturdy and will not give much coverage.
What Half-Cross Should Look Like
How to Work the Half-Cross Stitch
The Half-Cross stitch is a simple diagonal stitch worked in horizontal rows.
Bring your needle up from the back at the bottom left of a canvas square and down into the top right, diagonally covering one canvas intersection.
To continue the row, bring your needle up in the square immediately to the left of your first stitch and repeat the same diagonal motion. Continue this pattern across the row.
To start a new row, you can either turn your canvas 180 degrees to work in the same stitching direction or work the next row from left to right.
Bring your needle up from the back at the bottom left of a canvas square and down into the top right, diagonally covering one canvas intersection.
To continue the row, bring your needle up in the square immediately to the left of your first stitch and repeat the same diagonal motion. Continue this pattern across the row.
To start a new row, you can either turn your canvas 180 degrees to work in the same stitching direction or work the next row from left to right.
