My rug is almost finished!

I learned a lot while stitching this rug in regards to the type of stitch to use when doing Petitpoint.  The stitch is different than Cross Stitch in that it only slants in one direction on the front instead of forming a cross.  There are a few different types of stitches that look the same in the front but are different in the back.  I spent some time reading about the different stitches on www.needlepointteacher.com/stitches/  which is a wonderful site that shows many different stitches that are done for needlepoint. The stitches are catalogued alphabetically so are easy to find.
The ones that are used primarily in Petitpoint are the Basketweave stitch and the Continental (or Tent) stitch.  Tent stitch is often used to stitch lines and small elements, whereas Basketweave is often used to fill in larger areas such as the background.  Some people feel that only Tent stitch should be used in petitpoint, while others like a combination of both to help prevent the rug from skewing in the direction of the stitches.  Sometimes a half cross stitch is used but it doesn't cover the back of the gauze as well as the others.
Below is a photo of the Butterfly rug finished and awaiting the addition of a fringe.​