Palestrina Stitch Video Tutorial
Here's another video tutorial for hand embroidery stitches - this one is for the Palestrina stitch. Palestrina stitch is used for outlining or filling and is common in both Jacobean designs as well as in Mountmellick embroidery, the latter because it gives a highly textured line or fill area.
The line produced in Palestrina stitch is bumpy! Evenly spaced along the line are knots that have one little arm that extends slightly, and which, when exaggerated, gives a barbed look to the completed stitch. I like this particular online illustration of Palestrina stitch at Mani di Fata. You'll find there a photo of the stitch, as well as drawn instructions for completing it.
To create a filled area with Palestrina stitch, you simply work rows of it next to each other, alternating the placement of the knots, and creating a highly textured filling. You can work the first row from left to right, then come back from right to left (either turning your hoop over or working the stitch backwards), or you can work all rows from the same direction. One thing I have noticed when using Palestrina stitch as a filling, though, is that the knots do look slightly different when worked from different directions. It doesn't ruin the look of the filling at all, to have the alternating rows also reflect the directional change - but you should practice with it to see which look you like better.
You can also vary the look of the Palestrina stitch by working it on a diagonal (instead of using straight stitches in line, as I do in the video). When you work your knot around a straight stitch worked diagonal to the line you are covering, the effect is much like a buttonhole stitch that has a knot at the anchoring point. You can futher alter the look of the stitch by increasing the length of the "arm" of the first wrap stitch. After watching the video, play around with the stitch to see what you can do with it!
In the video, I'm working on 36 ct. Edinburgh linen, using perle cotton #5. You can work this stitch on any fabric, though, and with any thread, really. The finer the thread, the finer the line. It takes curves well, too, by the way!
Enjoy the video, and please let me know if you want any clarification on anything!
For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.
The line produced in Palestrina stitch is bumpy! Evenly spaced along the line are knots that have one little arm that extends slightly, and which, when exaggerated, gives a barbed look to the completed stitch. I like this particular online illustration of Palestrina stitch at Mani di Fata. You'll find there a photo of the stitch, as well as drawn instructions for completing it.
To create a filled area with Palestrina stitch, you simply work rows of it next to each other, alternating the placement of the knots, and creating a highly textured filling. You can work the first row from left to right, then come back from right to left (either turning your hoop over or working the stitch backwards), or you can work all rows from the same direction. One thing I have noticed when using Palestrina stitch as a filling, though, is that the knots do look slightly different when worked from different directions. It doesn't ruin the look of the filling at all, to have the alternating rows also reflect the directional change - but you should practice with it to see which look you like better.
You can also vary the look of the Palestrina stitch by working it on a diagonal (instead of using straight stitches in line, as I do in the video). When you work your knot around a straight stitch worked diagonal to the line you are covering, the effect is much like a buttonhole stitch that has a knot at the anchoring point. You can futher alter the look of the stitch by increasing the length of the "arm" of the first wrap stitch. After watching the video, play around with the stitch to see what you can do with it!
In the video, I'm working on 36 ct. Edinburgh linen, using perle cotton #5. You can work this stitch on any fabric, though, and with any thread, really. The finer the thread, the finer the line. It takes curves well, too, by the way!
Enjoy the video, and please let me know if you want any clarification on anything!
For more video tutorials for hand embroidery stitches, please visit the Video Library of Stitches Index.
Labels: beginner embroidery, Hand embroidery stitches, video tutorials
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, April 16, 2007
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15 Comments:
I REALLY wanted to hear the narration on this stitch. I turned my own volume up as high as I could, but I can't make out your words. At least I can see it ok.
Hi, sequana - try the volume control in the lower right hand corner of the video screen. Sometimes that needs to be adjusted, as well as the volume on your computer. If that doesn't work, let me know, ok?
Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much. I've been trying to make sense of still pictures of how that stitch is done for two days!
Brilliant video, thank you.
Hi! I love all your videos and go back and watch whenever I need help on a stitch. This is the best. Thank you
I am glad you like them, Nora! I plan to have some more coming up in the future!
Thanks!
Dear Mary Corbet,
I would like to kno if palestrina stitch and coral stitch are the same. If not what is yhe difference between these two.I really appreciate the wonderful ,unselfish work you are doing .
No, the palestrina stitch is not the same as the coral stitch. I'll actually have a coral stitch video up by next week! They're similar, in that they make a line of knots, but they aren't executed the same way, and the knot on the coral stitch is smaller.
really I enjoy this stich. I'll try to work with it .Tanks.
I was using only chain/stem to do the lines. Now this is a very good stitch to make a difference
thank you for such a clear explanation of this stitch, I was able stitch along with you which made it so easy.
Thank you, this is a terrific demo.
so glad I found your site
jill
I'm so happy to see this stitch. I'd never saw this stitch before.
Some patterns or book on this subject are some place ?
Thanks for all
dear mary corbet..
i fall in love with the picture of this stitch.. i'll definitely gonna try to make one of these.. thank you very much for sharing all of the videos.. i really love them.. i'm a rokie on embroidery, but your videos make it easier for me to learn.. :) thanks again.
hugs,
jane
I just came across your site when looking for the Palestrina stitch. I learned to embroider as a little girl sitting next to "nonna" (grandma). It has been a while since I've embroidered this particular stitch....it was GREAT to see it in simple video terms. Thank you for taking the time and creating all these helpful videos. It is appreciated!!! So happy to have found your site, you have been bookmarked!! Looking forward to viewing all your videos out there.
Thank you so much!!
Bern
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