Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches A Visual Guide for Quilters and Sewists

Robin Strobel

ShopMartingale.com Backstitch

Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches Here’s a visual guide to some of the most common hand-embroidery stitches found in quilts and other sewing projects. Pattern instructions usually tell you what type of thread to use, but if you’re venturing out on your own, use embroidery fl oss or pearl cotton with a wide-eye embroi- dery needle. Embroidery fl oss is usually split, with only two or three strands used at a time. Use more strands for a heavier look. Pearl cotton comes in diff erent weights – 3, 5, 8, and 12 – with the lowest number indicating the heaviest thread.

Blanket stitch Corner blanket stitch Closed blanket stitch

2 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 3

Crossed blanket stitch Indented blanket stitch Knotted blanket stitch

Pyramid blanket stitch Sawtooth blanket stitch Serpentine blanket stitch

2 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches © 2019 Martingale • www.ShopMartingale.com • For personal use only, not for reprint. Slanted blanket stitch Chain stitch Colonial knot

1 2 4 1 3 2

Couching Cretan stitch Cross-stitch

2 3 5 1 4

Feather stitch Fly stitch French knot (2 winds)

1 2 3 1 2 4 4

1 2

1 32 4

French knot (3 winds) Herringbone stitch Lazy daisy or detached chain stitch

3 2

1 2 145

3 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches © 2019 Martingale • www.ShopMartingale.com • For personal use only, not for reprint. Long stitch Running stitch (var. 1) Running stitch (var. 2)

2 1

Satin stitch (var. 1) Satin stitch (var. 2) Snowfl ake stitch

1 8 5 3 4 6 7 2

Spiderweb stitch Star stitch (var. 1) Star stitch (var. 2)

2 1 3 6 3 1 5 4 4 3 8 7 2 5 7

6 8

Stem stitch or outline stitch Straight stitch Whipstitch

3 2 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 1

4 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches © 2019 Martingale • www.ShopMartingale.com • For personal use only, not for reprint.