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I just got my copy of the New Cross Stitcher's Bible. I'm really enjoying seeing the technical information on a lot of different styles of stitch and fabric beyond what I normally encounter in cross-stitch.

However one thing really confused me. When she was showing the 3/4 stitch, she showed that you did the long arm first, then the short arm went over the long arm "to anchor it down". I've never seen that mentioned before on any of the patterns I've bought when they show "how to do stitches" in the beginning. She doesn't even mention that it's a variation or a personal preference, just "this is the way to make this stitch".

Does anyone do it that way? Am I alone in thinking that could look odd and in some cases throw off the "all stitches going the same way" look? Is there a reason to "lock" or "anchor" down a 3/4 stitch?

I don't stich a 3/4 stitch the way your book says to do it. I also think that "anchoring" the long stitch down would make the piece look odd, unless the designer had a particular reason for wanting to do that and that would be clear in the instructions. I haven't done any for a while, but think I used to do the small stitch and then the longer one and if there were back stitch involved, I think I just waited and did the backstitch. As far as I am concerned, most everything in cross stitch is a preference. People who say you "have to" do something in a particular way forget that there are lots of ways to do things. Maybe the author says something in the preface or introduction to indicate that the techniques she describes are her preferred way of doing things?

Carole

I do it that way- anchor the half stitch with the quarter stitch.
(And when there is supposed to be a 3/4 and 1/4 stitch in a box.. I do them both as 3/4 stitches) I think it looks odd to not have it locked down- like its only a half stitch and I missed part of it.

Most of my recent projects have only had full stitches- but let me look through finished.. and not framed.. projects. I have one of santa cooking that has round bowls and spoons- that should have fractional stitches. I'll try and get camera to cooperate with a closeup. And you can decide if it interrupts the "flow"

[quote="MaggieM1750"]I do it that way- anchor the half stitch with the quarter stitch.
(And when there is supposed to be a 3/4 and 1/4 stitch in a box.. I do them both as 3/4 stitches) I think it looks odd to not have it locked down- like its only a half stitch and I missed part of it. quote]

Me too

I've used both but prefer the non-anchored version -- looks fuller and plumper to me

I have always anchored my 3/4 stitches that way I prefer to have them caged so to speak.

I do both. It depends what the pattern looks like, and what the surrounding stitches are like.

I go by what feels right when Im stitching

I do both - I complete the stitch in the order I normaly would and if the second leg is the little one it goes over but if the second leg is the long one it is under ... I'm a bit OCD about this.

Mabel Figworthy wrote:I've used both but prefer the non-anchored version -- looks fuller and plumper to me

Same here! Especially if it's on aida. I think it looks ugly if the split isn't hidden.