GOBELIN ENCROACHING

Gobelin Encroaching is worked horizontally in bands of slightly slanted stitches. The bottom of each band encroaches on the top of the band below, hence the name.

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STEP BY STEP

Begin by bringing your needle up in the canvas 5 threads down from the top of the area you want to stitch and taking it down again 5 threads up and one along to the right. Repeat until you complete your first row of stitches.
Begin your second row 4 threads below the first and make a row of stitches as before 5 threads up and one along to the right. This means the stitch will encroach one thread into the band of stitches above.

It is important to always take the needle down into the previous row between stitches rather than bringing it up through the stitches as this will disturb the lay of the existing stitches and make for a messy finish.

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