SSS 2016.5. Ermine stitch

This week’s stitch on Sunday Stitch School is Ermine stitch. The working is on Queenie’s blog. I have come across this so many times on embroidery stitch books and always thought this has to be tried one day, which never came till now. A very simple stitch, can also be cross stitch with three stitches
This stitch is worked with two strands of perle cotton [I think] on queenie’s blog. Continuing with that- the first row is the basic ermine stitch. The straight stitch in the centre is worked with another thread in the second row. In the third row the individual stitches are worked continuously to make this a linear stitch.

SSS.5.ermst-1

In these three rows the height of the three stitches are varied and explored.

SSS.5.ermst-2

In this part of the sampler, two ermine stitches are worked together-
the ermine stitch and its mirror image are worked in a line in the first sample. A long straight stitch is made in the second row, and two ermine stitches are worked one below the other. The ermine stitches are worked in opposite directions in the third row. The fourth row is the long and short version of the ermine stitches worked alternatively and this row should have been in the second part of the sampler, the idea came later. Two ermine stitches worked in opposite directions in the fifth row. The ermine stitch and its opposite version in another thread is worked beside it. the same treatment is continued on the last row.

SSS.5.ermst-3

Since this stitch is formed of a straight stitch and two crossed stitches, an idea of working these crosses over other stitches which have straight stitches. The four stitches chosen are –
Cretan stitch in the first row, buttonhole variation in the second row, pistil and long tailed detached chain in the third row.

SSS.5.ermst-4a

The ermine stitches worked over them

SSS.5.ermst-4b

I enjoyed working on this stitch sampler. The stitch gives room for many possibilities. Sometimes it can be used for filling wide spaces, creating shapes, securing long straight stitches, sometimes as a couching stitch too. After working on this stitch for some time, a rhythm is achieved, which can be used for working on plain fabric.

SSS.5.ermine stitch sampler