Fish-Scale Stitch. A loose Buttonhole stitch used for working fish-scales. It is useful for working representations of fish in designs, seascapes in natural needlework, and in making ornamental pocket-pincushions in fish-shape, as in the illustration. Work a row of Buttonhole stitches across the space, fasten on at the side, turn back and work one Buttonhole stitch into each previous loop ; continue in this way until the space is filled, leaving the loops loose, but fastening the thread at each side of the space to be filled.