Back to the Jacobean crewel work and this weekend I have been trying to decide how I should fill the lattice work hillock at the bottom of my design. First I worked up a lattice grid, trying to ensure that squares were equal in size (not as easy as it would first appear). I thought that Battlement stitch would be a good place to start. This involves putting down successive layers of different colours. A holding stitch is then placed over every intersection of the uppermost layers. Not sure about this one, maybe I need to change the combination of colours.
The next filling used lazy daisy stitch (also known as detached chain stitch) to form a simple flower motif and intersecting squares where then filled with straight stitches worked on the diagonal of each square (going corner to corner). I am liking this combo more.
The final filling that I tried was based on a piece of work that I had seen, by Tracey Anne Franklin – but I am not sure that I really did it justice. This is my favourite filling and I think the colours work well together too! Every other square is block filled using two different colours – a cross stitch is then added to the squares in-between and the crosses were in turn held with a second cross in a contrasting colour. Does this make sense? If not, I hope the pictures below help….
I did try bullion stitch and thought that I could use these to fill the cross stitch squares – but after 4 bullion stitches, a lot of frayed wool – I am not so sure!
Day 6 of my certificate course is coming up this week, so hopefully one of the tutors can help with my decision – or suggest an alternative. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
sweetfallenangels 
There are so many options are there! I love the alternating filled and cross variations, but it will depend on your design and how heavy or light you need to make it weight wise. Such a fun decision!
Hmm, I tend to sew more and smaller stitches rather than less, meaning my design is more closed with less open spaces. I just feel that something like the lazy daisy option will unbalance the whole picture.
Wow bullions are hard with cotton. I don’t know if I’d ever attempt it with wool 😮 Enjoy your class.
It wasn’t the easiest of stitches I have to say!