BASKETWEAVE OR DIAGONAL TENT STITCH

The basketweave stitch is worked on the diagonal of the canvas, or on the bias line. It may cause some distortion of the canvas while you are working the piece, but because you are working on the bias stretch of the woven canvas, it will easily block into shape when the piece is finished. The finished stitch results in the look of basketweave on the back of the canvas.

Basketweave Stitch Illustration
In the above diagram, the number l refers to the first stitch (working it lower left of each stitch to upper right). The second diagonal row is #3-#6, the third diagonal row is #7-#l 2, etc.

It is IMPERATIVE that you follow this rule when working the basketweave stitch: Basketweave Rule Illustration
Look very carefully at the diagram on the previous page with respect to the canvas mesh and the direction of each row in order to understand this stitch. If not stitched properly, the woven effect is broken. This will be apparent on the back side of the canvas.

Backside of Basketweave Stitch Illustration
Basketweave Starting on Curve Illustration

For Left-handed Basketweave (Diagonal Tent) Stitch

Select one, do not mix:

Method I

To begin: Go to lower left hand corner or area of the design. This way the "grain -of-canvas" is going down rows to cover vertical intersections. Stitch "downhill" to cover vertical mesh and "uphill" to cover horizontal mesh (see right-handed basketweave pages for canvas grain pictures).

Lefthanded Basketweave Stitch Illustration

Method II

Rotate design "top" to the left a quarter turn, so that what was the top right-hand corner is now the top left-hand corner. You will then be able to follow the stitch diagrams for right-handed stitchers without adaptations. The "grain of canvas", however, has changed and reversed.

You may find different teachers or shop owners select either of these methods.