SILK SHADING

This variation of the Satin Stitch, like the Long and Short Stitch, is used to fill a shape that is large or irregular. It is a common stitch used for the finest professional embroideries, worked in silk. One wonderful property of this stitch is that you can shade the shape, adding dimension and interest to your design.

After stitching the first row with Satin Stitches, work the second row by squeezing the stitch between the stitches of the first row.

Finished Stitch:

Hints:

Control the shading by making the stitches in a particular row longer or shorter.
The surface of the shape will have a smooth look (though not as smooth as a pure Satin Stitch would be). You can create textural interest by angling the stitches slightly, so that they radiate from a center point instead of lying totally parallel to each other.