Stitch name etymology

I do not mean to be offensive or controversial in this post. My intention is to inform about the etymology of a stitch name. This post was written in response to an email I received this morning about the stitch to which this post refers.

Faggot stitch is a drawn thread stitch in which groups of threads are bound together in a pattern to make holes in the fabric. The etymology of the stitch name is nothing to do with the derogatory term (dating from the early 1900s) used in some cultures.

Faggot is a word dating from the 1300s meaning a bundle of sticks tied together, which is similar in appearance to a group of threads bound together. It would therefore be a good way to describe the stitch.

Most likely, as the stitch is a very old stitch, it took its name a long time before the derogatory version of the word developed. I understand, however, that some people may not want to use the common name of this stitch. In the absence of other well known alternative names (apart from cable stitch which is an alternative name for reverse faggot stitch), a way of describing it could be “bundle of sticks stitch”, thereby referencing the much earlier meaning.

The meanings of words can be transient, changing over time, and in different places and cultures. Sometimes this presents problems for the present day when using names for old stitches.