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  1. Home Chevron Right
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  4. Basic Embroidery Stitches: Pictures, Diagrams, and How-Tos

Basic Embroidery Stitches: Pictures, Diagrams, and How-Tos

June 21, 2013
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With just a few basic stitches, you can create dynamic embroidered effects. Combine the basics and you can elevate the texture and dimension of your designs. Don't be afraid to allow yourself creative leeway. Make your own variations; you may be surprised at the results! Follow the step-by-step instructions to learn the essential stitches.
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Backstitch

When to use: The perfect stitch for outlines, this simple stitch works best when a very precise line is necessary.

How-to: To backstitch, pull the needle up at A, insert it back into the fabric at B, and bring it up at C. Continue in the same manner.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Beaded Whipped Chain Stitch

Learn how to make a beaded whipped chain stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Blanket Stitch

When to use: This decorative stitch can be a bit confusing at first, but with a little practice, you'll pick up the overlapping pattern and be stitching it with ease.

How-to: To blanket-stitch, pull the needle up at A, form a reverse L shape with the thread, and hold the angle of the L shape in place with your thumb. Push the needle down at B and come up at C to secure the stitch. Repeat for as many blanket stitches as desired. You may wish to make all your stitches the same length, as shown in the illustration, or vary the lengths.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Chain Stitch

When to use: Versatile as a decorative stitch, outline, or border, this textured stitch is a series of loops joined together to resemble a chain.

How-to: To chain-stitch, pull the needle up at A, form a U shape with the thread, and hold the shape in place with your thumb. Push the needle down at B, about 1⁄16" from A, and come up at C. Repeat for as many chain stitches as desired.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Cross-Stitch

When to use: Gaining its popularity from charted designs stitched on the uniform squares of Aida cloth, cross-stitch works well for free-form embroidery on other fabrics as well. It's simply two straight stitches, crossed at the centers.

How-to: To cross-stitch, pull the needle up at A. Insert it back into the fabric at B, and bring it up at C; then push the needle down again at D.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Drizzle Stitch

Learn how to make a drizzle stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Eyelet Wheel Stitch

Learn how to make an eyelet wheel stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Featherstitch

When to use: Overlapping V-shape stitches give this stitch its distinctive featherlike look.

How-to: To featherstitch, pull the needle up at A, form a V shape with thread, and hold the angle in place with your thumb. Push needle down at B, about 3⁄8" from A, and come up at C. For the next stitch, insert needle at D and bring it out at E; continue in the same manner.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Fly Stitch

Learn how to make a fly stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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French Knot

When to use: This raised knot makes a nice dimensional accent when stitched alone, sprinkled throughout a design, or grouped together to fill a space.

How-to: To make a French knot, bring the needle up at A. Wrap the thread around the needle two or three times without twisting it. Insert the needle into the fabric at B, about 1⁄16" away from A. Gently push the wraps down the needle to meet the fabric and then pull the needle and thread through the fabric slowly and smoothly.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Lazy Daisy Stitch

When to use: One loop, similar to the chain stitch, is tacked down with a tiny straight stitch to form this versatile stitch. Make one loop for a leaf, or stitch several in a circular pattern to fashion a flower.

How-to: To make a lazy daisy stitch, pull the needle up at A and form a loop of thread on the fabric surface. Holding the loop in place, insert the needle back into the fabric at B, about 1⁄16" away from A. Bring the needle tip out at C and cross it over the trailing thread, keeping the thread as flat as possible. Pull the needle and trailing thread until the loop lies flat against the fabric. Push the needle through to the back at D to secure the loop.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Pekinese Stitch

Learn to make a Pekinese stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Pistil Stitch

Learn to make a pistil stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Rosette Chain Stitch

Learn to make a rosette chain stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Running Stitch

When to use: Another simple stitch perfect for borders and outlines, this stitch resembles a dashed line.

How-to: To make a running stitch, pull the needle up at A and insert it back into the fabric at B. Continue in the same manner, loading several stitches on the needle at a time.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Satin Stitch

When to use: When you want to fill an area with solid stitching, the satin stitch is the perfect choice and is recognized by its closely spaced straight stitches.

How-to: To satin-stitch, fill in the design area with straight stitches, stitching from edge to edge and placing the stitches side by side.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Scroll Stitch

Learn to make a scroll stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Split Stitch

When to use: Use your embroidery needle to split each previously made straight stitch and create a textured line perfect for flower stems and outlines.

How-to: To split-stitch, pull the needle up at A and insert the needle back into the fabric at B, about 1⁄8"–1⁄4" away from A. Then, holding thread atop the stitching line, bring the needle back up at C, piercing through the center of the first stitch, and pull the thread down at D so it lies flat against the fabric. Continue in the same manner, pulling with equal tautness after each stitch.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Stem Stitch

When to use: Just as its name implies, this stitch is often used for flower stems and outlines and works well for curved lines.

How-to: To stem-stitch, pull the needle up at A. Insert the needle back into the fabric at B, about 3⁄8" away from A. Then, holding the thread out of the way, bring the needle back up at C, half way between A and B, and pull the thread through so it lies flat against the fabric. Pull with equal tautness after each stitch.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Straight Stitch

When to use: Sometimes all you need is a basic stitch. The straight stitch is just one stitch sewn in any direction.

How-to: To straight-stitch, pull the needle up at A. Insert needle back into the fabric at B. Continue in the same manner.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Threaded Running Stitch

Learn how to make a threaded running stitch for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Whipped Woven Circle

Learn to make a whipped woven circle for your embroidery projects.

Get instructions here.

Watch how to do this stitch here.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Whipstitch

When to use: Another basic stitch, the whipstitch is used to join two finished edges or to attach a shape to a foundation.

How-to: To whipstitch, pull the needle up at A. Insert needle at a diagonal angle through the front edge at B, resulting in a slanted stitch, and picking up only one or two fabric threads at a time. Continue in the same manner.

  • Beautiful Embroidery Stitches

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Everything in This Slideshow

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1 of 23 Backstitch
2 of 23 Beaded Whipped Chain Stitch
3 of 23 Blanket Stitch
4 of 23 Chain Stitch
5 of 23 Cross-Stitch
6 of 23 Drizzle Stitch
7 of 23 Eyelet Wheel Stitch
8 of 23 Featherstitch
9 of 23 Fly Stitch
10 of 23 French Knot
11 of 23 Lazy Daisy Stitch
12 of 23 Pekinese Stitch
13 of 23 Pistil Stitch
14 of 23 Rosette Chain Stitch
15 of 23 Running Stitch
16 of 23 Satin Stitch
17 of 23 Scroll Stitch
18 of 23 Split Stitch
19 of 23 Stem Stitch
20 of 23 Straight Stitch
21 of 23 Threaded Running Stitch
22 of 23 Whipped Woven Circle
23 of 23 Whipstitch

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Basic Embroidery Stitches: Pictures, Diagrams, and How-Tos
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