it must be
a short upright line.

[Illustration: Fig. 80.]

Gobelin stitch is a useful variety; it lends itself to shading better
than cross stitch. It is most often worked upon a fine single canvas,
and it can be used as a raised stitch. Fig. 81 represents the stitch; it
is worked similarly to tent stitch but over two threads in height and
one in width, no matter whether the single or double thread canvas is
used. In order to work it as a raised stitch, a line of some kind of
padding is thrown across the canvas, and the stitch taken over it. This
line can be arranged to show in part, in which case the material must be
one presentable, such as a gold cord or narrow braid. The padding would
be covered with stitching to form the background, and left exposed for
the pattern, which would probably be a simple repeating form of some
kind. Gobelin stitch is sometimes worked quite perpendicularly just over
two threads in height.

[Illustration: Fig. 81.]

Irish stitch is pretty and quickly worked. It is usually taken
perpendicularly over four threads of the canvas (fig. 82), though the
number over which it is taken may vary. It is worked in such a way as to
make the stitches of each succeeding row fit between those of the last
row, and can be carried out either diagonally or in horizontal lines.
What is known as Florentine work is carried out in a stitch of this
kind. The pattern in this kind of work is taken horizontally across the
ground in a succession of shaded zigzag lines.

[Illustration: Fig. 82.]

Plait stitch is often used for grounding. It resembles a simple plait
laid in close rows to and fro on the ground. It can frequently be seen
used upon the Italian XVIth century linen work, that in which the
pattern is left in plain linen, and the ground worked in some colour.
The diagram in fig. 83 shows the method of working the stitch. If
carried out correctly, the back of the material should show a row of
short perpendicular lines, each composed of two threads.

[Illustration: Fig. 83.]

Two-sided Italian stitch is descriptively named, for it is alike on both
sides. This is frequently seen on XVIth and XVIIth century Italian linen
work, similar to that mentioned above. A loosely woven linen makes a
suitable ground material, for in the working the stitches must be pulled
firmly, so as to draw the threads of the fabric together; this gives
over the ground a squared open-work effect, which is very pretty. Fig.
84 e