Directions
Cable stitch
It's the basic stitch. You often use it at the top and bottom of a bigger pattern because it gives definition to the work. In the example below, the first row has already been completed, and the explanations are for the second row from the bottom.
- Take the gathers A and B together; enter on the far side of B and come out between A and B.
- Take gathers B and C; enter on the far side of C and come out between B and C.
- Alternate, working the thread over, then under, then over, etc.
Chevron stitch (or full step wave/one step wave)
These stitches take the gathers 2 at a time, alternating between a horizontal bottom stitch, a rising stitch, a horizontal top stitch, a descending stitch, etc.
You'll get a diamond pattern by embroidering 2 rows of chevrons, mirror-image (opposite) of each other. This stitch is worked from left to right.
- Make a cable stitch toward the right with gathers A and B (horizontal stitch).
- Come out between A and B, with thread positioned below the needle.
- Make an upward stitch and enter between gathers C and D (rising stitch).
- Come out again toward the left between C and B.
- Go over gathers C and D toward the right and go into gather D from the right (horizontal stitch).
- Come out again between C and D, with thread positioned below the needle.
- Make a downward stitch to enter between the 2 following gathers (descending stitch), etc.
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