Single Cross Stitch "x" Or Single Star Stitch *

[aaljarbou]

Hi everyone!

I am trying to bind two pieces of leather with either a single cross stitch (X) or a star stitch (*). The picture below gives you an idea what I am talking about.

I know how to make a continuous cross stitch, as you would for wrapping leather around a steering wheel, for example, and I can try that principle for a single stitch, but I feel that there is no way to do it without ending it in a knot, which I am not keen on doing. Any ideas how to avoid that, or advice on a smooth, unobtrusive way to end the stitch?

Also, when I cut holes with a pricking iron or a stitching awl I get an unattractive \ / on top and / \ on the bottom and the thread just bunches on one end of the hole. Is it better to poke a round hole with my scratch awl or stamp a small one with a hole bunch you think?

Any advice, resources, experiences would be much appreciated

[Nuttish]

A. You gotta finish it with a knot.

B. When you cross stitch with two needles, you get a free overhand knot behind every cross and if you double up as you are, you can pass your bottom thread under the other cinched bottom thread.

C. What's wrong with a couple surgeons knots on top of each other? They're good enough for fishing. You can even pass the tag ends through each side of the entire loop behind your cross. Nothing's going anywhere anytime soon. That's 2 overhand knots cinching two threads finished by a double surgeon's knot, all more or less indistinguishable from the back of any cross made with overhand knots.

Crude demo:

Front

Back

[aaljarbou]

Hi, thanks so much for the feedback.

I did as suggested, but without the overhand knot behind each cross. I finished it with a surgeon's knot. The one on top has holes made with a 2mm hole punch and the lower one with a stitching awl and twisted around.

[Nuttish]

Looks good. Did you come up with a solution you like more?

[aaljarbou]

Not really, I think it works alright when I hammer down the knot. I will try a star stitch next to see how they compare and then upload a photo.

[TinkerTailor]

if you double or triple cast the last stitch, or all of them, you will be tieing surgeons knots inside the holes. If you do this, just cutting and burning the ends should be enough.

[Nuttish]

Ya, that's what I meant when I said put an overhand knot on the back, but it didn't occur to me to cast it an additional time to make a half surgeons knot. Thanks for the good suggestion!

[TinkerTailor]

Once you pull the double cast stitch tight you can if u are careful finish the second half of the surgeons knot in the same hole if the leather is thick enough. The twist holds it from unstitching if that makes sense.