Amoroso Leslie (2007:188) refers to it as the 'New England economy stitch", because it "used less thread than the method used in Britain" (i.e. a satin stitch, whereby both the obverse and reverse of the ground cloth are covered by the embroidery thread). However, in a booklet about plain needlework published in 1852, there is a reference to the "economy stitch" (i.e. a one-sided satin stitch; p. 55). This booklet was prepared for the National and Industrial Schools of the Holy Trinity, Finchley (London). So at least in the nineteenth century this term would appear to be used in both North America and Britain, and possibly in other English speaking countries.
Sources:
- ANON (1852), Plain Needle-Work, in all its Branches: with full directions for shirt, shift, frock, and boys’ dress-making; cutting-out and repairing; marking, knitting, and fine-drawing; netting and various other sorts of fancy-work, in thread, worsted, etc. The Finchley Manuals of Industry, no IV, London: Joseph Masters.
- LESLIE, Catherine Amoroso (2007). Needlework through History: An Encyclopedia, Westport (Connecticut): Greenwood Press.
GVE