The Continental Stitch is one of the most basic stitches of needlepoint. Ideally, this stitch is used to fill in small areas and outline. It is not recommended that this stitch be used for large areas of canvas due to it's tendency to distort the fabric.
Stitched over the diagonal of one mesh, this stitch has good coverage of both the front and back of the canvas making it one of the most durable tent stitches. This stitch can be stitched in several ways, horizonally, vertically or even in diagonal rows. Properly done, the stitches should all fall in the same direction and create a pattern of long stitches on the backside of your work.
Seasoned stitchers all have their favorite places to begin their stitching. My personal choice is in the lower right. Bring needle up from underside of canvas leaving a tail of about an inch on the underside. Push your needle back down into the canvas in the upper right and diagonal square, creating your first stitch. Continue this pattern, until you reach the end of a row. Turn your entire canvas around (so that the bottom is at the top} and stitch in the same way down the other side.
