What’s the difference between cable plait stitch and plaited braid stitch?
cable plait stitch
This is cable plait stitch. It is the stitch used in Mountmellick embroidery. It is a reasonably simple stitch, with only a few steps. Also known as figure of eight stitch to the ladies of Mountmellick, because that’s what each stitch looks a bit like.
Each stitch (or the sequence of steps that goes to make up a single cable plait) is worked separately and sits on the fabric separately (though with so little distance between that it is negligible). Individual cable plaits do not interact or interlace with each other.
When worked wide, (shown here about the widest I would be happy to do) it becomes very unstable. It can be worked quite narrow, which creates a slightly different, more compact, knotty look.
It looks like a simple braid on the surface of the fabric.
plaited braid stitch
Below left is plaited braid stitch. There are two lines shown as each is worked with a different method to create the same result. You can read more about this at a previous post on plaited braid stitch.
It is usually worked in gold or silver thread, and comes from Elizabethan embroidery. It is a more complicated stitch to work than cable plait stitch. Each individual stitch looks a little like a pretzel. (Though if you look at the cable plait stitch picture, each one of them looks like an upside down pretzel… interesting…)
Each stitch (or the sequence of stitches that go to make up a single plaited braid stitch) interlock with the ones one each side of it, so that the effect is much more interwoven than for cable plait stitch.
If this stitch is worked too wide, the stitches start to look too squat. This can be solved by using a thicker thread or narrowing the width. It is quite a stable stitch because of all the interlocking.
It looks like an intricate braid on the surface of the fabric.
I guess an interesting experiment would be to work both stitches in the same thread to see how they compare then. Here we are comparing two different threads, and the thread (its stiffness or otherwise) can really affect ease of stitch construction. With plaited braid stitch it really helps to have a thread with some “body”, but this is not necessary for cable plait stitch.
At some point, I think I’ll have to prepare some samples of each in the same thread. Perhaps one each in Mountmellick thread and one each in gold thread, so that we can compare better.
I have a hunch that in actual fact they’re not all that dissimilar. Just that plaited braid stitch is more interlaced with the stitches on either side.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Thanks Yvette!
You knew that I hadn’t had a chance to look up the difference yet – didn’t you?
😀
Hope you’re feeling a bit better today!
Yvette,
that is great information..you have explained both the stitches so well..I am all happy when read cable plait stitch is done individually..
Earlier I tried n tried to do them continuously for more than 3 hours but in vain.. I think now I will get the stitch..will try and let you know..thanks a lot..
Hi Lakshmi,
They are done continuously sort of though… It depends on what you mean. Each little figure of eight is its own “bit”, but after each one you don’t take the needle to the back, finish, and start again coming to the front. After each figure of eight, you move straight on to the next one. So it is continuous in that sense, but each figure of eight does not interlink with a previous one. There is just a single line of thread moving from one to the next. Assuming you are right-handed, do you have a copy of or access to either “Mountmellick Embroidery: Inspired by Nature” or “The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion”? Both have detailed step-by-step instructions with diagrams for cable plait stitch. And “The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion” has plaited braid stitch also, in quite some detail. If you are left-handed, “The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion” has both stitches.
I thought it was a great subject to look at. I wrote it up soon after your comment, and while sick seemed like a good time to use the post! When I have the time, I’d love to further explore the similarities and differences for myself. Thanks for the idea!
When I get a few more of my current projects out of the way (lack of light for photography is slowing me down!) I shall sit down with the RH Embroiderer’s Companion and crack Plaited Braid, if it takes me a week!
Bravo! I don’t think it will take you a week(!), but I do think you’ll enjoy mastering it. Or maybe not enjoy mastering it, but enjoy the finished result?!