What is "filet cross stitch"?

crosswindcrafte

Been stitching for many years and come across something I have never heard of, let alone know how to do!
What is "filet cross stitch"? My pattern doesnt mention how to do it anywhere. Ive tried goggling it with no success. It appears to regular cross stitch using one strand? Anyone know?

Bleu

I guess it came from Filet Crochet
same chart but in crosstitch

justamoi

Probably a reference to filet crochet. Filet crochet is done on a net grid & the same pattern can be used for cross stitch, etc. I would assume you just stitch as you would normally - either 1 over one or 2 over two (depending on what size youre doing).

justamoi

Ok...think Ive found an answer for you. I have an old needlework book with a chapter on filet and reticella. Filet is essentially normal embroidery or cross stitch that is worked on a very fine net (that you made yourself or bought pre-made). You can either do embroidery stitches and/or cross stitch on the filet net & once its complete, its inserted into a piece of linen or similar (so is used as the decoration rather than embroidering directly onto the linen). Filet cross stitch is, as you can probably work out, cross stitch that has been done on a filet net. The finished product looks a little bit like lace but with a grid.

I have no idea if you can even get filet net any more...the closest to it may be something like waste canvas. But the picture in this textbook showed a very fine net, so I doubt waste canvas would be small/delicate enough to achieve the look intended in the original pattern.

crosswindcrafte

justamoi 2014-12-6 14:08
Ok...think Ive found an answer for you. I have an old needlework book with a chapter on filet and r ...

Thanks! that makes sense! I will see if I have any fine netting in my stash, if not I will see what the fabric store has. Appreciate you answering my question :)

Darkwitch

:) filet crochet are beautyful

htsear13

Following this thread

diystuff

You dont need to stitch on net.  Just stitch on normal cloth, the design will just be single colour silhouette in cross stitch.

Trudy432

Basically, it’s a method where you create a grid of small squares using regular cross stitches, and then fill in or leave empty certain squares to form a pattern, often geometric or floral. The result looks a bit like filet crochet lace but done with thread and needle instead of yarn and hook. It’s perfect for making elegant, airy designs on things like tablecloths, curtains, or even bookmarks. If you enjoy projects that feel vintage and sophisticated, filet cross stitch might just become your new favorite—plus, it’s a great way to practice your counting and precision without getting too tangled up in complicated colors!