Stitch of the Month
October 2001:
Nun Stitch

by Joni Stevenson

The Nun Stitch is an edging stitch most often used on linen or other fine fabrics, but it can also be used on needlepoint canvas.  It's worked near the edge of the ground fabric, then the excess fabric is cut away.  Each "leg" of the stitch is worked twice.  The first two stitches are placed in the same canvas holes as shown in Steps 1 and 2.

Step 1

Step 2

The third and fourth stitches are placed in the same canvas holes perpendicular to the previous stitches as shown in Steps 3 and 4.

Step 3

Step 4

Once the edge is completed using the Nun Stitch, you are ready to cut your canvas away.  Carefully cut the canvas as shown in Step 5, being careful not to cut through your stitches.

Sample stitched by Shirley Kahler

Step 5

On canvas, the edges will be imperfect as the canvas threads will not pull back away from the edge slightly as they do on linen fabric.  Therefore, there will be little "nubs" showing along the edge.  You may wish to cover the edges by beads to hide this imperfection.