Editor's Note:
In our last issue we introduced this in-depth study of compensation. Thank you for your enthusiastic response. We are pleased to continue this study with our second installment.

COMPENSATION OF DIAGONAL STITCHES

Milanese Stitch

A Milanese is half of a Scotch stitch. The rhythm of the stitch is "over 1," "over 2," "over 3," "over 4," repeat. The "over 4" and "over 1" stitches line up diagonally; likewise the "over 2" and "over 3" stitches.

Compensation Against a Straight Line

Starting with the "over 1" stitch in the upper left corner and working down, you don't encounter your first compensation until you work back up to the end of the second row. From left to right I worked four rows and I can see that the fifth row begins with 2 tent stitches as compensation and once again the full stitch butts up against the top line. This compensation has a four row repeat.

Compensation Against A Diagonal Line

In this case I brought the "over 4" stitch element out to the diagonal line and because of the regularity of the slope of the diagonal line and the rhythm of the stitch, I found a regular rhythm to the compensation of two tent stitches all the way down the diagonal line.

Compensation Against an Oblique Line

In this case, because the slope of the oblique line is more horizontal than vertical and because the top edge of the Milanese stitch in a descending line is straight, you can put a full Milanese stitch in right away and not deal with compensation until the end of the next row which is ascending. The compensation will have a two-row repeat.

Compensation Against a Curved Line

As I stated earlier, a circle is a series of straight, diagonal and oblique lines when worked on a grid surface. Since this stitch is made up of diagonal stitch elements, what better place to begin the first stitch but at the diagonal section of the circle? I also know that the diagonal section of this circle is 4 threads long so I will begin the row of Milanese with the "over 4" stitch right on the edge of the circle. Since the diagonal section of the circle is the midpoint of each quarter of the circle and the Milanese stitch is a diagonal stitch that travels in a diagonal line, this row of Milanese should pass through the center of the circle.

Continuous Diagonal Cashmere Stitch

The rhythm of this stitch is 1-2-2-1-2-2-1-2-2-etc. whether working it in an ascending row or a descending row. The stitch elements are diagonal, but the movement of the stitch creates oblique rows. Each row is offset either

• 2 threads to the right and 2 up, or
• 2 threads to the left and 1 down

depending on whether you are working to the right or the left.

Compensation Against A Straight Line

Here you start in the upper left corner and work down to the right. You wouldn't Encounter any compensation until the end of the second (ascending) row. After working several rows, you will find that each descending row starts with a tent stitch for compensation and every ascending row ends with a tent stitch for compensation. Since the stitch elements are either 1 or 2 thrads long, a tent stitch is the only type of compensation you could have.

Compensation Against A Diagonal Line

Remembering that the stitch elements are diagonal, and that the stitch creates oblique rows, and also keeping in mind the regularity of the diagonal slope, you can see the compensation forming a pattern immediately. In fact, this compensation is the same for each row, whether ascending or descending.

Compensation Against An Oblique Line

Here the regularity of the oblique slope of the line against the regularity of the oblique line which the stitch pattern creates establishes a regular compensation pattern.

Compensation Against a Curved Line

Again as in the previous stitch, begin this stitch at the diagonal section of the circle. Since the diagonal section is 4 threads long and the longest stitch element is 2 threads long, you can center it on the diagonal side and you will have a minimum of compensation. Since you are working this stitch in only one diagonal direction, you will have no mirror imaging.

OBLIQUE STITCHES

The next stitches are from the oblique family of stitches. Just for clarification, an oblique line is any slanted line that is not a 45 degree angle.

Encroaching Gobelin

Each stitch is 1 thread wide by three threads high. Starting from the top of the pattern each row fits into the previous row. The tops of the subsequent rows share a horizontal canvas thread with the bottom of the previous row. This sharing gives the stitch its name.

Compensation Against A Straight Line

In this case there are single tent stitches representing the bottom of the previous row. Since rules were made to be broken, you must break one here. You have learned that the angle of the stitches in the compensation must match the angle of the stitches in the full stitch. However, here the tent stitches are necessary even though they are a different angle, or the top edge of the area will be incomplete.

Compensation Against A Diagonal Line

Here because the slope of the true diagonal line drops one thread at a time and the Encroaching Gobelin is almost a vertical stitch, you can treat it as a straight stitch and the compensation will shorten the 3-thread long stitch 1 thread at a time. As in the previous case, you must break the angle rule to fit in the compensation.

Compensation Against an Oblique Line with this stitch in next issue.