What is the difference between Basketweave and Continental and why would I choose one stitch over the other?
Continental and Basketweave are both “tent stitches”—that is that they are both a series of right-leaning stitches that go across one intersection of the canvas threads from the lower left to the upper right. Both Continental and Basketweave have the same appearance when viewed from the front side of the canvas. However, when you examine the backside or reverse side of piece stitched in Basketweave or Continental they appear very differently. Continental stitching because it is done in horizontal or vertical rows has the appearance on the backside of a series of ridges or ripples. Basketweave as the name suggests has a woven appearance on the backside of the canvas. Continental stitch is always worked from right to left (or top to bottom) whereas Basketweave is worked in diagonal rows up and down the canvas. Basketweave has several advantages over Continental. Chief among them being that the canvas is not pulled out of square when one does Basketweave. Continental, on the other hand, i
