Embroidery stitches with instructions will supply those who desire to use the needle in the cause of home decoration, and those who take delight in making their homes beautiful, an opportunity to vary or increase their knowledge and efforts.
The embroidery stitches are listed in alphabetical order to make finding the stitch you want easier.
The Algerian Stitch is a kind of Cross stitch somewhat akin to Cretan stitch, but worked on canvas. It may be worked as a single or double stitch. (See Double Algerian Stitch.)
The Battlemented Stitch (often called the Battlement Stitch) is a series of stitches to represent the top of castles, etc. in embroidery. It is often done with the Overcast, Holbein, or Point de Russe stitch. Easy to do and quite effective.
The Beading Stitch is a loop or knot, formed over the principal thread. It is used where very light sprays of flowers and/or leaves are needed in a design.
Brick couching stitch consists of cords that are laid side by side and fastened down with over stitches alternating with each other on every other row the work.
Brick stitch is really a system of running or darning. A number of rows the same length are stitch horizontally. Rows of stitches are then embroidered vertically, alternating between rows. The result is that of brick work.
The buttonhole stitches, also called “Overcast” stitches, are worked in the hand. Other stitches in the Buttonhole Stitch category are the “Fish-net Stitch,” the Honeycomb Stitch, and the “Cat, Brier, or Coral” stitch.
The Cable Stitch is another variation of the Chain Stitch. It is made in the same manner as the Chain Stitch, except that the needle is inserted to the right and a little below the loop preceding.
The Cashmere Stitch, also knwn as Condensed Cashmere Stitch, is supposed to, when completed, look like cashmere. It is a needlepoint stitch worked on canvas.
The Cord Stitch is a twisted stitch made by securing it with a stitch at the farthest side and twisting the needle around and around this laid thread back to the starting point.
The couching stitch is a stitch used to "couch" or fasten down cord, silk, or thread to form an outline of a design.
To see the many variations of this stitch, or to learn more, see Couching Stitch.
Covered Knot Stitch
Cretan Stitch
The Cretan Stitch is a creative filling stitch often used for leaves and petals in the traditional embroidery. It is also a popular stitch for crazy quilts.
This is the first to be learned in doing canvas-work. On Java or ordinary canvas one-half crosses diagonally from left to right, and the other half in just the opposite direction.
The Diaper Couching Stitch is done by taking one long stitch diagonally across the form, then another at a distance of from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch, and so on across the space.This is repeated diagonally across the already sewn threads. A smaller stitch is then stitched at each intersection.
The Dot Stitch is a good stitch to use to fill flower centers and much more. It is also known as Point de Pois, point d’Or, Point de Poste, and Dotted. It is usually worked in outline and overcast stitches.
The Double Herringbone Stitch is a variation of the regular Herringbone stitch, although worked slightly different. It is made up of two rows of herringbone intertwined. Two different colors of threads can be used with this stitch.
The Fancy Herringbone Stitch is also known as the Barred Witch Stitch. The addition of another thread, possibly in a different color can create a beautiful stitch.
The Feather Stitch can cause some confusion among those following Victorian instructions. Earlier version of this stitch were made using the long and short stitch. Later versions,the stitch became synonymous with the Coral stitch.
The Fish-net (or Fish Net) Stitch is a filling stitch that is made the same way as the Honeycomb stitch with the exception that most of the stitches are not stitched through the fabric.
The Gobelin Stitch is a filling stitch much like the Kensigton Filling Stitch except it is strictly regular instead of irregular. It forms a complete surface of stichery.
This stitch is also known as the Witch Stitch. The beauty of this stitch depends entirely upon the execution. Every stitch requires to be put in at an exact distance from the last.
The Honeycomb Stitch is used to draw together in an ornamental pattern the gathers on clothing but is also for all kinds of decorative gathering. Care must be taken when using this stitch.
The Ismit Stitch, also known as the Turkish Cross Stitch, is an adaptation of the Herringbone Stitch and is used to fill long leaves and petals and is generally seen in conventional roses.
The Janina stitch, also known as the Filling Cross Stitch, is often used when embroidering leaves. It can have many different looks depending on how it is stitch.
The Kensington stitch is also known as "Solid Embroidery", the “Feather Stitch” stitch, and by some as just the repetition of the Long and Short Stitch.
The Kensington stitch is one of the most used outline stitches. It is a reverse back stitch and , although care must be taken with to hide the outline on the material, is an easy stitch to master.
The Knot stitch is also called Knotted. It is used in embroidery to form lines decorated at set distances with Knots. It is also used in Drawn Work to tie threads together in variously arranged patterns. There are many variations of this stitch.
The ladder stitch, often used in ornamental embroidery. As it’s name implies, the embroidery pattern looks like a ladder. After the stitching is complete, the fabric is cut away from between the stitching.
The Lattice stitch is used in making borders of uniform width. Worked much like the Ismit Stitch, it is quite easy to do and provides a pretty pattern to embroidery projects.
Mexican Stitch Over the course of time, different stitches have become known as the Mexican Stitch. Both can be used for ornamental embroidery work and one can be used as a faggoting stitch.
Outline stitches, which there are many, are stitches that follow the outline of a design and are usually considered as accessory only to others. Very good work, however, may be done with them alone.
The Queen Anne, or Weaving Stitch, is a regular, fine darning stitch. Darning, of various kinds, is now largely used in embroidery, principally in backgrounds.
Rope Stitch gives a heavy twisted effect, which is much richer than any of the other Chain Stitches. It is often used to create the look of couching where actual couching stitches would not be acceptable to use.
The Single Reverse Chain Stitch is a variation of the Common Chain Stitch. The same effect as the Common Chain Stitch is achieved, but the method and direction of working it is reversed, hence its name.
The Spider Web Stitch, which looks as its name implies, is used for conventional embroidery for filling spaces, within circles or between scrolls. To learn more, see Spider Web Stitch.
Split Stitch
The Split Stitch is a wise choice to use when a narrow outline is required. It may be worked in the hand, however, using a frame will use less silk.
The Stem Stitch is an embroidery outline stitch that is very useful for stems of flowers as well as adding a balance to many designs. This stitch allows them embroiderer to choose the width of the stem or outline.
The Tambour Stitch is another variation of the Chain stitch and can scarcely be classed strictly as an embroidery stitch. It requires a special needle that has a hook on the end.
The Tapestry stitch is another stitch that may cause some confusion to those using Victorian patterns and instructions. While most instructions refer to it as a version of the long and short stitch for backgrounds, another stitch, otherwise known as the Tent stitch, is often called the Tapestry stitch, also.
The Trellis stitch is a great filling stitch. It is a “Mount Mellick” (Mountmellick) stitch. Used in any design, Mountmellick or not, it will add a great element to your embroidery piece.
The Turkish Cross Stitch is also known as the Ismit Stitch. It is an adaptation of the Herringbone Stitch and is used to fill long leaves and petals and is generally seen in conventional roses.
The Twisted Outline Stitch adds a richness to embroidery pieces. The thread is twisted after being brought up through the fabric and before sending the needle down.
