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Linen Finishing Stitch
Overcast Variation

www.jeanfarish.com

Introduction:
For centuries, women have found ingenious ways to connect pieces of needlework. The Linen Finishing Stitch is a simple continuation of an age-old process. There are many techniques used to join linen pieces. If you knit, you may recognize the Linen Finishing Stitch for it is remarkably similar to the most common way to join the side seams of sweaters.

This process will seem painstakingly slow when you are first learning, but don’t get discouraged. Remember when you first switched from Aida to linen and you counted every linen thread to make sure you were stitching “over two”? Soon your fingers flew as quickly as they did on Aida. You'll find this to be true here, also!

Stitch the design:
Follow the designer’s chart to stitch all the pieces to be assembled. Be sure to leave at least 1” between the individual pieces if you are stitching several on a single piece of cloth.

Preparation:
Cut out each panel, leaving a half inch seam allowance on all sides. Do not clip the corners! 

It is strongly recommended that you use some brand of a fray-reducing product on the cut edges. Lay the pieces on a paper towel. Apply the fray-reducer sparingly and do not let it seep into the design. Allow it to dry thoroughly. You can use a hand held blow dryer to speed up the process! If you do NOT protect the edges, there is a very good chance that the seam allowance will unravel before you complete the assembly.

Stitching Fiber:
Unless you are deliberately adding contrast, match the fiber you use for assembling the project to the color used on the edges. If there is no border, match the linen fabric.

Use #12 pearl cotton on linen that is 14, 15, or 16 stitches-per-inch, if the color you need is available. If you use floss, use two strands. One strand of floss is not strong enough for this task. It is best to use a continuous fiber for each seam. Estimate the length by measuring the entire seam and then add 9".

top diagonal + side + bottom diagonal + 9” =
length of stitching fiber needed

Cut a length for each seam.

Secrets to Success:

Use stitching fibers no longer than 16”
Stitch taut but not tight.
Do not re-use fibers that have been ripped out unless it is just a few stitches.
Have enough stitching fiber in your needle to stitch each seam before you begin each one.

Teach a friend! 
 

Copyright 2003 by Jean R. Farish. All rights reserved. No portion of this page may be reproduced by any means without expressed written consent of Jean Farish,  unless explicit permission is granted within the text of the page. Please read  Fair Use clause. To obtain written permission, please address all correspondence to Jean Farish, 230 Second Street SW, Taylorsville, NC 28681 or email at jeanfarish@gmail.com