When last we left our heroine (which would be me, fearlessly embroidering on knitted goods), we had just finished wrapping the yarn and anchoring the last wrap,
and we were in the process of pulling the needle through (as promised, a different color this time):
The view without the anchor/thumb makes it clear why the anchor is necessary; if you pull too hard, that nice corner at the top of the stitch will get sucked into the middle of the stitch. (Since I have the stitch turned sideways in the picture, the top of the stitch is on the right of the photo.)
Now we proceed to secure the wraps in all four directions: top, bottom, side, side / north, south, east, west, as you wish. According to one of my embroidery references, the "official" version only gets secured in two directions. (Which is not to suggest that other embroidery references show it being secured in more than two directions; my other embroidery references in fact don't list the stitch.) Since I'm putting this on something that will be worn, I want more security. So all four directions it is.
Let the yarn cross over the wraps and insert the needle at the bottom of the stitch (the bottom of the stitch is on the left side of the photo). The needle reemerges at the very top of the stitch, just catching the yarn where your thumb had previously anchored it.
Pull the needle through and you will notice that the boy-with-his-finger-in-the-dyke feeling is gone. The "big turn" is now secure.
Now to the sides. (Sides of the stitch, that is, top and bottom of photo.) Insert the needle at the very top of the stitch and come out just off center. Aim to come up just at the inside edge of the wraps.
Pull the needle through and let the yarn cross over the wraps as it moves toward the outside of the stitch. The idea is to leave a small space in the center, so if you came up at the inner edge of the "west" wraps, you want to cross the yarn over the west wraps.
Insert the yarn at the outer edge of the stitch.
The next move is toward the center. Once again, aim for the inside edge of the wraps, leaving a small space in the center.
Pull the needle through, let the yarn cross the wraps on the same side and insert the needle at the outside edge of the stitch.
Pull the needle to the back and enjoy your work:
Given where I was using the stitch, I wasn't crazy about the opening in the center, so I put a French knot there. Next time.
Maureen
She believed she could, so she did.
