Opus plumarium
Cushion stitch
​A series of long, medium and shorter straight stitches densely combined to fill and smoothly cover an area of fabric, and by using different coloured threads enables blending, shading and realism.
The variety of names by which Long and short is known gives an indication of how widely used the stitch has been: plumage, feather and opus plumarium all refer to the fact the stitch resembles feathers; silk shading and shading stitch both highlight the fact it's commonly used for shading.
Long and short stitch has been part of both Asian and western European traditions for centuries: it is part of the sashi-nui style of Japanese embroidery from Kyoto; it was frequently used in opus Teutonicum, a German whitework technique; and in China it was an integral stitch in Gu embroidery (based on ink brush paintings).  Individual surviving embroideries suggest that it's use was probably even more widespread: the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna holds a 13th century chasuble  and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds a 14th century  cope from Germany.
Jacobean crewelwork frequently depicted animals and large branches and leaves using Long and short stitch.  The 19th century Arts and Crafts revival of historic embroidery techniques led to a resurgence of long and short stitch as it lends itself to subtle colour gradation.
