stitch

Noun

1. An arrangement of stitches, or method of stitching in some articular way or style; as, cross-stitch; herringbone stitch, etc.

2. A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made.

3. A single turn of the thread round a needle in knitting; a link, or loop, of yarn; as, to let down, or drop, a stitch; to take up a stitch.

4. A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a single pass of the needle; hence, by extension, any space passed over; distance.

        You have gone a good stitch.          --Bunyan.

        In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their
        plow, and take no deep stitch in making their
        furrows.                              --Holland.

5. A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a needle; as, a stitch in the side.

        He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which
        was, indeed, a pleurisy.              --Bp. Burnet.

6. A contortion, or twist. (Obs.).

        If you talk, Or pull your face into a stitch again,
        I shall be angry.                     --Marston.

7. Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every stitch of clothes. (Colloq.).

8. A furrow. --Chapman.

{Chain stitch}, {Lock stitch}. See in the Vocabulary.

{Pearl}, or {Purl stitch}. See 2nd {Purl}, 2.

Verb

Imp. & p. p.: stitched; p. pr. & vb. n.: stitching.

Transitive

1. To form stitches in; especially, to sew in such a manner as to show on the surface a continuous line of stitches; as, to stitch a shirt bosom.

2. To sew, or unite together by stitches; as, to stitch printed sheets in making a book or a pamphlet.

3. (Agric.) To form land into ridges.

{To stitch up}, to mend or unite with a needle and thread;as, to stitch up a rent; to stitch up an artery.

Intransitive

To practice stitching, or needlework.