Gull Stitch
small motifs of crossed stitches over an eyelet that look like little flying gulls
Gull stitch makes rows of small bird-shaped motifs by crossing a couple of stitches over a gap, so each unit reads as a flying gull with an open V body and two swept wings. The wings are made by slipping a stitch and passing worked stitches over it, or by a tiny cable cross, and the body is the little eyelet the crossing leaves beneath. Set on a purl or stockinette ground and repeated across and up, the gulls tile into a light, decorative all-over pattern that sits between a lace and a mini-cable, giving movement without the bulk of a full cable or the openness of true lace. It is a traditional gansey and Shetland motif and a pretty accent panel or all-over texture for sweaters, mittens, and blankets. It needs a little attention to keep the crossings and eyelets aligned, so a chart helps, but there are no hard techniques beyond slipping and passing stitches over. The fabric stays fairly stable and only pulls in slightly.