Orange Rug Yarn Musings

Continuous Wrapping is a stitch used in Casalguidi, a traditional Italian embroidery done on a counted ground that is very dimensional. I learned this stitch as part of the EGA Correspondence Course "Casalguidi and Lavender" by Barbara M. Kershaw. My photos are from my piece from that course, however, I think this stitch could have some very interesting uses on a needlepoint canvas where you want a strong, dimensional line, and I'm looking forward to trying that.

You start with 3 threads, 2 core threads and the working thread. The 2 core threads should be the same length, twice the desired length of the finished wrap plus 8". The working thread should be about 4" shy of double the length of the core threads (four times the desired length of the finished wrap plus about 4".) Thread your 2 core threads onto a needle. Stitch down on one side of a canvas thread and back up next to it. Remove the needle and even out the threads so that there are 4 even length tails coming out the front.

Thread up your working thread and start it right next to the core. At this point you will want to clamp your hooped or framed canvas to your table or frame. If you don't have a wide clamp, you'll probably need 2.

Here's how I hold the two core threads most of the time:

Wrap the wrapping thread clockwise around the core until you get the desired length. (You probably would want to wrap counter-clockwise if you were using Z-twist Brazilian embroidery floss, but I haven't tried it yet.) Finish off the wrap with a buttonhole stitch (ie putting your thread behind the previous wrap.) If you want to put your work aside before you are to the end of the wrap, you can use a loose buttonhole stitch to temporarily hold your work.

Take all 5 threads to the back in one hole where you want the end of your wrap to be tethered. Then work the ends in in singles or pairs.

Finally, using a 4th thread couch the wrap down where you want it to go.

The finished Continuous Wrap on my sample piece: