Darning Stitches, Diagrams and Book Recommendations

Poppy Monk talks darning stitches in their latest article and recommends SharonG's book, It's About Darn Time, for diagrams of these stitches.

https://poppymonkneedlepointkits.com/blogs/the-5-minute-needlepoint-blog/raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-canvas-the-amazing-versatility-of-darning-patterns

If you can find SuZy Murphy's Suzy's Darn Stitches, it has a ton of darning stitch diagrams.

https://www.theneedlepointgallery.com/product-page/suzy-s-darn-stitches-by-suzy-murphy

Many books by Ruth Schmuff, Brenda Hart, and Mary Legallet have sections that are all about darning stitches, so check the books you own to see if you can find a chapter about these great background stitches.  Mary Legallet has some tips for you if you try to use them here--

https://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2015/6/9/whimsicalwednesday

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 19, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Martini Glasses with Stars from Mary Legallet

Mary Legallet of Whimsical Stitch has posted a really neat background stitch that I call Martini Glass with Stars.  (She calls it Martini with Snowflakes.)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/340725528079365605/

Mary doesn't do stitch sequences on her diagrams and this is a darning stitch that is open with lots of blank canvas, so I suggest you experiment on scrap canvas to figure out the best way to stitch this to minimize dragged threads that will show on the front.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 9, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Meredith Does a Cat and Dog Background

Speaking of Meredith Willet, her latest free stitch diagrams are stitches suitable for a cat and a dog canvas.  Here are the fish diagrams for a cat.
https://classes.mscanvashouse.com/pdf/quarantine/Quarantine_Lesson_13.pdf

Here is the dog bone one.
https://classes.mscanvashouse.com/pdf/quarantine/Quarantine_Lesson_14.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 1, 2020 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Using Running Stitch for Colorful Backgrounds

Needlepoint For Fun's latest e-newsletter is about using a running stitch and Flair to cover a colorful background.
https://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/how-to-do-the-running-stitch-for-the-background-on-your-needlepoint-canvas.htm

Of course there are other ways to handle a background with a lot of color changes.  You can frame the piece over gold lame' fabric without stitching anything in the background, for example.  You can use a single ply of cotton or silk floss in a medium shade taken from the background.  You can use thin metallics as well and work random sized boxes all over the piece.  There are a lot of fun things you can do to enhance the background.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 27, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

SuDu Talks Stitch Guides and Backgrounds and Embellishing and Finishing UPDATED

Sue Dulle's recent blog posting talks about how she uses a stitch guide. It's full of good tips on how to get the most of a guide and how to customize it to your own likes and dislikes. 
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2017/05/01/melisssa-shirley-wicked/

Sue also talks about stitching her background and why she stitched the letters on her canvas differently than the guide. There are some great tips for stitching darning stitches, too.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/melissa-shirley-wicked-background-letters/

She also gives us tips on how to work large projects without forgetting areas.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/melissa-shirley-wicked-fun-stuff/

Now she embellishes!
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2017/05/08/melissa-shirley-wicked-embellishing/

UPDATE:
Finally, Sue writes about finishing. This article alone is worth its weight in gold!  There's more than just finishing in this article, but it's the main focus.
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/melissa-shirley-wicked-final-thought/

Thanks for writing down your thoughts, Sue.  It's very valuable information.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 1, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

How to Use Darning Stitches in Backgrounds UPDATED

Needlepoint For Fun's newest newsletter is about darning stitches for backgrounds.  The article shows off a simple darning pattern the shop created for a canvas, recommends two books of darning patterns for your backgrounds and gives tips for creating successful backgrounds with these stitches.
http://www.needlepoint-for-fun.com/needlepoint-darning-pattern-a-question-mark.htm

UPDATE:  Read the comments for further darning book recommendations.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright January 13, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Turning in the Margins

Pat is working away on a darning stitch background for her Bitch canvas from Bloomin' Stitches.  The pretty pink heart stitch she is using is done with horizontal stitches worked across the row, left to right or right to left.  It takes seven passes across the width of the canvas to create a row of hearts.  To have the threads lay flat without twisting, Pat has to work a little pin stitch outside the margin of her design.    I thought you'd like to see how she is doing it in case you want to use a darning stitch yourself and need a smooth look.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2016/09/more-background.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 29, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Monkey Stitches

I should have entitled this Blog article "Monkeyshines!" 
http://www.sheenasstitches.com/monkeys/

Hope you enjoy the fun monkey stitches.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright February 9, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Mary Talks Darning Stitch

Mary Legallet talks about simple darning stitch and how she uses it as a light coverage stitch.
http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2015/6/9/whimsicalwednesday

She has good tips for those using darning stitches, particularly for those who are trying it for the first time.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 10,  2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Pattern Darning in the 21st Century

Finger Step Design's Latest Book

Thanks to Judie at Thistle Needleworks, I learned that the newest Finger Step Designs book is out. It's darning stitches! The full title is Side By Side:  Pattern Darning in the 21st Century.  Judie says the little 86 page book has 264 "charted and illustrated motifs."  The photo above is the cover.  The book distributor is Custom House.   The book, like all the Finger Step Design books has the diagrammed stitches and also has several projects based on the stitches if you like doing counted stitch samplers.  So you can use the book as a reference or you can use the project charts to make something fun.
http://www.customhouseofneedlearts.com/charts/FSD/SideBySide.html

The book is available at the Alex Paras website (and there are links to stitched projects from the book available there).
http://store.apneedlearts.com/045485.html

I didn't find the book anywhere else yet as it is brand new, but your local shop can get you copies from Custom House if you'd rather buy local.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 8, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

SharonG's About Darn Time

SharonG's second book is out now and Theresa of Homestead Needle Arts came back from Market with autographed copies.  AND she's done a short review in her latest newsletter.  If you are on the fence about this book, check out the review to learn more about what's inside.
http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=75cc9d0ed2d76a48c9e165ab2&id=c940523f5e&e=810b807e3a

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 3, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Cat or Pumpkin? UPDATED

Sue is working on what I think is a Shelly Tribbey witch* and decided to do a darning stitch pumpkin for the background. Lo and Behold--it turned into a cat's heard!
https://sudukc.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/happy-halloween-and-an-another-stitched-witch-but-not-finished/

Now that's background magic!

UPDATE: I corrected the link.  This is what happens when you blog too soon after cataract surgery!  LOL

*Nope, this is Deborah Wilson /Beau Jeste's Spread Eagle Witch.  Sue checked.  Thanks!

Written by Jane/Chilly
Hollow Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 30, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

About Darning Stitches

SharonG Bra with Darning Stitch Deer Background*

You have probably seen darning stitch backgrounds here and there without really understanding how they are done.  Vicky DeAngelis to the rescue!  Pay close attention to the margins of her canvas where she does little | stitches to turn the thread before stitching another vertical row.
http://mostlyneedlepoint.com/still-love-that-man-in-uniform/

SuZy Murphy has a book that is all darning patterns called SuZy's Darn Stitches.
http://www.pfos.com/SalePages/PocketFullofStitchesNeedlepointBooks.htm

Brenda Hart's two Favorite Stitches books and her Stitches for the Millennium all have a few darning patterns in them as well.
http://bristlythistle.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/new-needlepoint-books-from-brenda-hart-june-mcknight/

From personal experience I can tell you to use long lengths of thread as you can't stop in the middle of a row.  Threads that drag from one motif to the next will show so make sure each row is stitched the same way so that the shadows all look the same from the front.

*For new readers of Blog, the camouflage bra and tap pants set is from SharonG.  I stitched it several years ago.  Here are the links to my old articles if you are curious.
http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/01/camouflage-bra-and-tap-pants-set.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/01/camouflage-lingerie-threads.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/01/all-beads-are-not-alike.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-size-beads-for-what-size-lingerie.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/01/bead-and-stars-tidbits.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/by-way.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/rushing-around-before-more-snow.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/bra-with-beads.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/bra-beads.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/beaded-bra.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/better-beaded-bra-and-more.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/comparing-beading-techniques.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/now-we-wait.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/camo-tap-pants-done-stars-started.html

http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2010/02/sharong-camouflage-bra-and-tap-pants.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
@ Copyright 2013 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.