Cashmere Stitch in Needlepoint: How to Work It, With Diagrams
Mosaic stitch stretched into a rectangle. The result is a soft woven texture that suits clothing, upholstery, and quiet backgrounds.
Cashmere stitch is four diagonal stitches that fill a block two canvas threads wide and three high: a short stitch over one intersection, two long stitches over two, and a final short stitch over one. According to the Royal School of Needlework's Stitch Bank, the blocks repeat "in line with those to the side, above and below to form a grid." The result is a soft texture of small rectangles that reads like woven cloth.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Unit | 4 diagonal stitches in a block 2 wide × 3 high |
| Stitch lengths | Over 1, 2, 2, 1 intersections |
| Canvas distortion | Moderate |
| Snag risk | Low to moderate |
| Best for | Clothing, upholstery, quiet backgrounds |
What cashmere stitch is
Cashmere is mosaic stitch stretched by one row. Where mosaic fills a 2 × 2 square with three stitches, cashmere adds a second long stitch to fill a 2 × 3 rectangle. Every stitch slants the same way as tent stitch, bottom left to top right.
That extra row changes the character of the texture. Mosaic reads as tiny squares; cashmere reads as small rectangles stacked in a grid, closer to the look of woven fabric. It's a favorite for clothing on painted canvases: sweaters, coats, upholstered chairs.
How to work cashmere stitch
- Short stitch over the top-left intersection of the block.
- Long stitch over two intersections, one row down.
- Second long stitch over two intersections, one row further down.
- Short stitch over the bottom-right intersection.
- Next unit. Move two threads across and repeat. Units share holes along their edges.
Work the units in horizontal rows, all in the same stitch order. At the edges of an area, fill partial units with shorter diagonals or tent stitches so the canvas is covered.
Cashmere variations
The Stitch Bank notes that cashmere "may be worked diagonally or horizontally to suit the design."
- Diagonal cashmere. Units are stepped down diagonally instead of lined up in a grid, so the long stitches form diagonal ribs. It gives a twill-like texture and suits backgrounds.
- Condensed cashmere. The units overlap so the long stitches run in continuous diagonal lines, which gives a denser texture.
- Staggered cashmere. Rows are offset like brickwork, which softens the grid.
When to use it
Use cashmere wherever a design calls for fabric: clothing, cushions and upholstery in a scene, tablecloths. It also makes a quiet background with a little more character than mosaic. The stitches are short, so it wears reasonably well, though the two long stitches per unit snag a little more than mosaic on pieces that get handled.
Thread is the same as for tent stitch on your mesh, since diagonal stitches cover the canvas well. All the stitches slant one way, so work on a frame with a light tension to limit distortion. The background stitches guide compares cashmere's relatives side by side.
FAQ
What is cashmere stitch in needlepoint?
What is the difference between cashmere and mosaic stitch?
Can cashmere stitch be worked diagonally?
Can Stitchmate chart cashmere stitch?
Further reading
- RSN Stitch Bank: Cashmere stitch — the Royal School of Needlework's diagram and variations
- KC Needlepoint Stitch Vault — numbered diagrams for cashmere and its relatives
- American Needlepoint Guild — classes and courses on decorative stitches
Chart the Design, Choose the Stitches Later
Stitchmate (stitchmate.app) charts needlepoint in tent and petite stitch on any mesh from 10 to 24. Chart your design, then work its flat areas in cashmere on the canvas.
Try Stitchmate FreeNo account required. Works in your browser.