Half stitch in cross stitch
A half stitch is just the first leg of a cross: one diagonal over a square. Charts use it for lighter shading, skies and backgrounds, where full crosses would be too heavy. It is usually shown as a diagonal line or a smaller symbol in the key.
Step 1 of 4
Come up at the bottom-left of the square.
front of fabric thread on the back
Tips
- Half stitch uses a vertical stitch on the back; tent stitch uses a longer diagonal one, which covers better but uses more thread.
- On Aida, half stitches can look sparse: many stitchers use one extra strand.
Strands: Often one strand, so the fabric shows through; follow the chart key.
All steps
- Come up at the bottom-left of the square.
- Go down at the top-right. That’s one half stitch.
- Come up directly below, at the bottom-left of the next square. On the back you see a short vertical stitch.
- Continue along the row. All half stitches should lean the same way as the bottom legs of your full crosses.
Questions stitchers ask
Is a half stitch the same as a half cross stitch?
Yes, the names are used interchangeably.
How is a half stitch different from a three-quarter stitch?
A three-quarter stitch is a half stitch plus a quarter stitch into the centre of the square, used for smooth curves.