The Indian Cross Stitch is a beautiful way to change up your knitting, and it’s a stitch you don’t come across all that often. Formed by knitting elongated stitches out of order, the Indian Cross Stitch provides a particularly unique and beautiful addition to your knitting. There are so many different ways to knit the Indian Cross Stitch since it can be worked at a variety of lengths and over different stitch counts too. This video walks you through the tricky part – how exactly to elongate your stitches and cross them over without twists or tangles. Once you wrap your brain around this stitch you can incorporate it into your knitting in so many ways!
If you’re doing the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along (or even reading this after the MKAL for reference), variations on this stitch are featured in the second section of the Exquisite Mystery pattern.
These instructions demonstrate how to work the Indian Cross Stitch as defined in Barbara Walker’s first Treasury of Knitting Patterns, but the stitch length and count may be adapted to a variety of lengths or stitch counts.
Yarn support for the Exquisite Mystery design was provided by Dream in Color yarn. To learn more about the Exquisite Mystery Knit Along, check out this overview post, the Exquisite Mystery KAL Ravelry Thread, and order the pattern here.
I really like this stitch. Have you used this pattern in a blanket or maybe a sweater? -positioned verically or horizontally? I guess I am wondering how weight would affect the stitch. Is it possible for me to store all of your stitch videos together? They are do very helpful.
Thanks so much
B-R
Hi B-R!
This pattern uses the stitch on a really small scale in a shawl for a textural effect. As far as fit, I’ll point you toward this pullover and this cardigan. I haven’t found a lot of patterns using indian cross stitch if they’re looking for a closely fitted garment, but it makes a statement and is a nice alternative to lace! If you’re looking to lighten up the stitch, you could do fewer garter repeats between crosses, and make your crosses shorter as well.
I’m so glad to hear you like the videos! To organize them, I recommend using YouTube’s playlist feature, creating a list of bookmarks in your web browser, or using Pinterest. Here are some tutorials to help teach you how to do the YouTube and Pinterest ideas:
-https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57792?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
-http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/how-to-use-pinterest
Let me know if you have any questions or other ideas for this stitch!
Heidi
Love your videos, clear, succint and no unecessary extras(i.e.showing how to wrap the sts 8xs). You have the best presentations!!
Thanks so much, Mary! That makes my day. :)
Why is it called Indian cross stitch? Is it referring to India, or the indigenous peoples of the Americas? I can’t find that anywhere. Hoping someone here would know. I’m using it in a lovely shawl by Melanie Berg and am going to get questions when I wear it!
I don’t know, but I found this stitch in Barbara Walker’s first Treasury of Knitting Patterns, under the name “Indian Cross Stitch.” Hopefully that will help – I’d love to hear what your research turns up. :)