Half, quarter, and three-quarter stitches
Updated November 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Fractional stitches let two colours share one square along a diagonal. That is how a cheek or a leaf edge stops looking like stairs. On Aida you make the middle hole yourself. On evenweave stitched over two, the middle hole is already there.
- 1
Stitch the half stitch as one diagonal
Come up in one corner and go down in the opposite corner. Do not add the return leg. Half stitches are a shading tool. They are not “unfinished” full crosses unless you forgot the top leg.
- 2
Pierce the centre for a quarter stitch on Aida
Come up in a corner and go down through the middle of the Aida block, between the woven threads. The stitch covers a quarter of the square. Keep the needle straight so the hole stays in the centre. A hole near the edge will show.
- 3
Add the half leg to make a three-quarter stitch
The three-quarter stitch is the quarter leg plus a full diagonal in the same colour. It covers three quarters of the square and leaves a triangle for the second colour. The chart shows which colour owns the larger part. Give that colour the three-quarter stitch. Give the other colour the quarter stitch in the remaining triangle.
The longer colour is the three-quarter stitch. The short colour is the quarter. - 4
On evenweave, use the centre hole
Over two threads, the intersection in the middle of the stitch is a real hole. Come up in the corner and go down through that intersection. You do not pierce the thread. This is why curves look cleaner on evenweave.
- 5
Keep the top-stitch rule
The long diagonal of a three-quarter stitch should slant the same way as the top leg of your full crosses. If it fights the rest of the piece, it will flash.
- 6
Substitute a full cross when you want to
On a first project, stitch a full cross in the stronger colour and skip the fraction. Note it on the chart. Do this on purpose, not because the hole wandered.
Two colours, one square
Work the quarter stitch of the background colour first if it will be covered at the centre, then the three-quarter stitch of the foreground. Some stitchers do the opposite. The test is whether the centre looks like the colour the chart meant to show.
Do not fractional-stitch the whole background
Charts use fractions on edges. A field of them is usually a charting error or a photo conversion that was left too fine. Full crosses are faster and stronger.
Sources
- 10 essential things to know before starting cross stitch — Embroiderers’ Guild of America
- DMC Mouliné Spécial: six strands, 8.7 yards, colourfast — DMC
- Parking tutorial (PDF) — Scarlet Quince
Read the symbol before you pierce the cloth
The legend says which colour owns the square. The diagonal says how they split it.
How to read a chartQuestions
- What is the difference between a half stitch and a quarter stitch?
- A half stitch crosses the whole square on one diagonal. A quarter stitch stops in the centre and covers only a corner.
- Why does my quarter stitch slip out?
- The centre hole is too close to a woven thread, or the stitch is loose. Come back through the same centre with the three-quarter leg so the pair locks.
- Can I use a sharp needle?
- On Aida, a sharp needle makes the centre hole easier and also makes it easier to split a thread you did not mean to split. Many stitchers keep the tapestry needle and spread the weave with the tip. On evenweave over two you do not need a sharp needle.
- Does every chart use these?
- No. Many beginner charts are full crosses and backstitch only. Photo-style charts use more fractions if the designer drew them in.