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 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 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 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
Cross Stitch
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 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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
For examples of stitches commonly used in Botanical embroidery, be sure to check out
Botanical Stitches.
For examples of a variety of Button-hole stitches, a star pattern, or more botanical stitches, see
Fancy Stitches.
If a particular stitch does not have any information or illustration with it, check back soon. Information will be added continually until all embroidery stitches are listed – which could take a while! . If you need information on a particular stitch, please don’t hesitate to
contact me.
