Rhodes Stitch

The Rhodes Stitch is a beautiful traditional counted embroidery stitch that creates a raised, textured square with a distinctive woven appearance. Made with a series of long, overlapping straight stitches, the threads gradually build up to form a softly padded centre. The finished stitch has a lovely dimensional quality that catches the light, especially when worked with silk or other specialty threads. Rhodes Stitches are wonderful additions to samplers, decorative borders, and geometric designs, where their rich texture adds interest and elegance.

In this intermediate counted embroidery course, you'll learn how to work the square variation of the Rhodes Stitch, placing each straight stitch in a carefully counted sequence. As the threads overlap, you'll see the characteristic raised centre begin to form. I'll show you how to count your fabric threads accurately, follow the correct stitching order, and maintain even tension for a smooth, balanced finish.

You'll enjoy step-by-step video lessons, along with helpful downloadable documents, including Stitching Basics and a special small cross stitch pattern to help you practise your new skills. Once you've mastered the basic square Rhodes Stitch, you'll be ready to explore other variations, including the Rhodes Heart and Rhodes Butterfly. It's fascinating to discover how changing the placement of the same simple straight stitches can create such different shapes!

This course is intended for stitchers who are already comfortable working counted cross stitches on linen. If you're new to linen, I recommend taking my Introduction to Cross Stitching on Linen course first. Learning to count fabric threads confidently will make these decorative specialty stitches much easier to enjoy.

Gather your favourite threads and join me as we practise the square Rhodes Stitch together on a doodle cloth. Enjoy watching the beautiful raised texture develop with each stitch, and take pleasure in adding another traditional technique to your needlework skills. You're always welcome to share your stitching progress and finished work on social media. I'd love to see what you create!