Running Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Used in : Surface - outlines, borders, foundations and fillings,

unning Stitch is done by running the needle up and down the cloth at a regular distance. We can Rsay it is a continuous series of Straight Stitches. Being a fundamental stitch, it is used in various like Crewel Work, Redwork, Work, counted embroidery work, appliqué, etc...

Bring the thread through A and take it in through B. This creates one 1 stitch.

Now bring it out through C, and in through D. Continue stitching in 2 this manner.

The length of the stitch on the upper-side can vary than that on the 3 underside. Usually, there is more thread shown on the upper-side than the underside in a Running Stitch. Try to keep the length of the stitches on the upper-side as same as possible and keep it consistent.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Whipped Running Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch, Woven stitch Used in : Surface embroidery, Needlepoint You need to know : Running Stitch

he stitch gives a ‘twisted’ effect to outlines. The closer the Running Stitches are done for the base, Tthe more twisted effect it will throw out. The Whipped Running Stitch can have stunning effects when done in contrasting colored threads. It can also cover larger areas of pattern for light fillings.

Lay the foundation by doing a row of Running Stitch. Bring out the 1 needle from one end of the row. Now, pass the needle under each stitch from the top. You will find that you are following a whipping pattern. Do not pluck the fabric underneath while whipping the thread around the stitches.

2 A finished row of this stitch appears like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Back Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint

ack Stitch is made by taking the thread backward than the conventional forward motion, and so, Bthe name. It is a very flexible stitch and easily follows curves and bends in a design. There are no spaces between each stitch, giving it a continuous appearance. Cross Stitch patterns use them too. Like the Running Stitch, Back Stitch also lays a foundation for many stitch variations over it. It is a favorite stitch for letterings.

Bring the needle out through Bring the needle out through Bring the needle out through 1 A and take it in through B. 2 C and take it in through B. 3 D and take it in through C. This creates one Straight Stitch. This way, we are creating a stitch by Continue this pattern to finish the going backward. design.

4 A finished line of Back Stitch will look like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Whipped Back Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch, Filling stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - borders, outlines, and fillings, Needlepoint You need to know : Back Stitch

his stitch is similar to the Whipped Running Stitch. The outline made by the Back Stitch can Tbe made more prominent with this whipping thread. Experiment by laying a base with thicker thread and whipping with a thinner thread.

Lay a foundation row with the Back Stitch. Bring out the needle form 1 one end of the Back Stitch row. Pass the needle under the first stitch from the top.

Then, pass it under the second stitch from the top. Keep up with this 2 whipping action without plucking the fabric underneath.

3 A finished row looks like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Stem Stitch

Also known as : Crewel Stitch / Stalk Stitch [EN] Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint

he Stem Stitch follows a backward motion like the Back Stitch to make the stitches. The in- Tteresting thing to note is that the reverse of a Stem Stitch produces a Back Stitch. As the name suggests, this stitch is popularly used for making stems outlines. It is also a popular stitch for Em- broidery Lettering and stitching thin letters. Make sure to follow the procedures exactly as illustrat- ed below, as it is only slightly different from the Outline Stitch.

Bring out the thread through A Also, note that C lies above Go in through D. Try to mark 1 and take it in through B. Take 2 the stitch A-B. So, all the 3 D in such a way that the point the needle backwards and bring the subsequent stitch points will lie B will lie half way through C-D. thread out through C. Note that the above their previous stitches. Come out through B. point C lies about half way through A-B. 4 Continue the procedure to get a neat row of Stem Stitch like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Whipped Stem Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint You need to know : Stem Stitch

his is an example of how Stem Stitch can act as a base to create variations. It follows a simple Tprocedure but throws out an attractive result. Try using this stitch for outlining with contrast colored thread for the base and whipping. Use a tapestry needle to ‘whip.’

Lay a foundation of Stem Stitch. Bring out the needle from one end 1 of the row and slide the needle under the first stitch. Do not pluck the fabric underneath.

Now, pass the needle under the space where two stitches overlap each 2 other. Do this for the remaining row in a whipping fashion.

3 A finished row looks like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials

Also known as : Tambour Stitch [EN] Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint

his is the basic and simplest of the Chain Stitch family. It gives a chain-like appearance or can Tfeel like petals lined up one after the other. It can follow curves easily, and is used in numerous embroideries worldwide.

Bring the thread out through Now, take the thread around Pull out the needle now to 1 A. Put the needle back in A 2 the needle from right to right 3 tighten the loop and you will and bring it out through the point to form a loop. get the first part of the chain. B, but don’t pull the needle out completely.

Now, put the needle in through Keep on with this procedure to 4 B, from inside the loop, and 5 finish the design. bring it out as shown. Continue by looping the thread around the needle to form the chain.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Whipped Chain Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Looped stitch, Woven stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlines, and fillings You need to know : Chain Stitch

he whipped Chain Stitch exemplifies how the Chain Stitch works as a base for decorative vari- Tations. The whipping of the Chain Stitch makes it leaner and slightly bolder. Using contrasting colored threads could make attractive samples. Use a tapestry needle to weave under the Chain Stitch.

1 Lay a foundation of Chain Stitch.

Use a contrasting thread and come out from one end of the Chain 2 Stitch row. Take the thread through each loop of chain made to give a whipped appearance.

3 A section of the decorated Chain Stitch will appear like this.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Split Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch, Filling stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint You need to know : Stem Stitch, Outline Stitch

his stitch is more or less similar to the Split Back Stitch. The Split Stitch was very pop- Tular during the medieval ages in England and was used to filling patterns. More lay- ers of thread were used and split through during each stitch making it a quicker way to fill. So, use more strands of thread for this stitch, like 4 or 6 strands. You can also take 3 strands and dou- ble it, as a trick to make the splitting easier.

Bring out the needle out through While pulling out the thread Again, put the needle in 1 A and put it in through B, and 2 through C, take it in between 3 through D to bring it out out through C. the thread, splitting it into two. through B, splitting the thread.

Continue this procedure to finish the stitch. The only thing to keep in 4 mind is to split the thread when bringing the needle out.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Outline Stitch

Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlining and filling, Needlepoint,

s the name suggests, this stitch is used to mark outlines of a pattern. It is a flexible stitch that Acan follow easy curves. Many times, it replaces the Stem Stitch, which looks similar to the Out- line Stitch. The Outline Stitch is much smoother in appearance than the Stem Stitch.

Bring out the thread through A and in through B. Take the needle 1 backward and bring the thread out through C. Make sure the point C lies about halfway through A-B.

Also, note that C lies below the stitch A-B. This crucial point makes it 2 different from the Stem Stitch. Go in throughD . Try to mark D in such a way that the point B will lie half way through C-D. Come out through B. The stitch pointB will be at the bottom of the previous stitch.

3 A finished row of Outline Stitch lies like this.

Good to Know...

The Outline Stitch resembles the Stem Stitch with a subtle differ- ence. In the Stem Stitch, the gap between each stitch is slightly ev- ident, unlike in the Outline Stitch. Also, the Stem Stitch follows a pattern where the needle comes out from the top of the previous stitch, while in an Outline Stitch, it comes out from the bottom of the last stitch.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Surface

Also known as : Couching [EN] Stitch category : Line stitch, Straight stitch Used in : Surface embroidery - outlines, and fillings

urface Couching can be used for outlines or filling patterns. Do not feel afraid to experiment with Sdifferent colors and various kinds of threads. This lesson shows to lay the thread and couch it at the same time. Another easy way to do surface couching would be to ‘pre-stitch’ the small couching threads on the stitch line and then pass the laid thread under it.

Start by bringing out a thread Now, keep the laid thread over After fastening, the stitch will 1 (brown) for laying from one 2 the stitch line. Use the other 3 look like this. end of the stitch line. Keep it open. thread to fasten the laid thread Now, bring another thread (red) down using a small stitch, as shown. out, a little outside the stitch line, and away from the other thread, as shown.

Now, bring the fastening thread Continue with this procedure. A finished couched line will 4 out as a short distance from the 5 To finish up, pass the laid 6 look like this. earlier stitch as shown. Lay the open thread through the fabric and knot thread over the stitch line, and again it. Make sure the couching thread is fasten it down with a small stitch. brought out at regular intervals to make it look elegant.

Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials