A Tutorial For Creating Needlepoint Argyle Plaids

Jane Gable's Argyle Plaid

Courtesy of Jane Gable, here are instructions for creating a needlepoint argyle plaid by working skip row basketweave. Jane says feel free to share her instructions for her take on needlepoint argyle plaids.

ARGYLE PLAID

1. Choose your date
2. Choose your threads
3. Choose your colors, one for each number
4. Choose your color order

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR THE ARGYLE PLAID:

1. The ONLY stitch you will be using is every other row basketweave
2. You will count ONLY the STITCHED rows for your number sequence
3. Always use 10 stitches for a zero
4. Partial dates are just fine
5. Decide how many repeats or partial repeats of your date that you want
6. Deciding the dimensions of your canvas:  Using the date July 12, 1942,
   those numbers total 70.  Since you aren’t counting your skipped stitches, you will double this to 140.  Your canvas will be 140 stitches by 140 stitches.  Mark this dimension into a square on your canvas.  This will be the final size of your stitched piece.

You will be combining the diagonal stripes of both directions to form a diagonal, or Argyle design.  the “every-other-basketweave” stitch is used to provide spaces for the two angles to meet.

You will start in the lower right hand corner and work to the upper left hand corner with the first number of your date, the month. When you reach the top, skip a stitch to the left of your first row and start your “down” row.  When you reach the bottom, skip one stitch to the left and start another up row.  Continue in this manner for as many rows and colors you have in your date.  You will be filling in the LEFT HAND SIDE OF YOUR CANVAS.

When you have finished stitching the left side of your canvas, turn it 180 degrees and repeat the process to fill in the other half of the canvas.

To complete your plaid, return to the original TOP and work from the UPPER RIGHT CORNER TO THE LOWER LEFT CORNER  continuing your color sequence, keeping the EVERY OTHER ROW BASKET WEAVE to fill in the spaces left.  When half of the canvas is complete, turn it again and start the same process filling in the last half and completing your plaid.

Jane Gable

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 29, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.