to keep the length of the stitches even.
Left-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from right to left. Bring the needle up on the line of the motif or the edge of the appliqué. Take a stitch down from the line and bring the needle back where you started keeping the thread to the right.
Insert the needle to the left of the first stitch, down from the line or edge, and bring it back out on the line or edge, making sure the thread is behind the needle. Pull through.
Continue repeating to make a line of stitches.
CHAIN STITCH
A series of looped stitches worked to interlink to form a chain-like pattern.
Tip
For a whipped chain stitch sew over the stitches again with the blunt end of the threaded needle.
Right-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from right to left. Bring the needle and thread up at the start point. Holding the thread to the left, put the needle back in where it first came out and bring the needle tip out again a little way beyond this point. Make sure the thread is under the needle and gently pull through.
Put the needle in again beside the last stitch and continue. To secure the final stitch, sew a small straight stitch over the final loop.
Left-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from left to right. Bring the needle and thread up at the start point. Holding the thread to the right, put the needle back in where it first came out and bring the needle tip out again a little way beyond this point. Make sure the thread is under the needle and gently pull through.
Put the needle in again beside the last stitch and continue. To secure the final stitch, sew a small straight stitch over the final loop.
LAZY DAISY
A very pretty stitch related to the chain stitch.
Right-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from left to right. Bring the needle up through the fabric at the top of the petal, hold the thread down with your thumb. Reinsert the needle at the start point and take it up again at the petal tip, keeping the thread under the needle.
Pull the thread through and, holding the petal down, make a little stitch at the tip to secure.
Left-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from right to left. Bring the needle up through the fabric at the top of the petal, hold the thread down with your thumb. Reinsert the needle at the start point and take it up again at the petal tip, keeping the thread under the needle.
Pull the thread through and, holding the petal down, make a little stitch at the tip to secure.
Tip
If you pull the stitches tight you get long thin leaves or petals, if you sew them loosely they are plump and fat.
HERRINGBONE STITCH
This stitch is a little tricky to get right, but it is well worth it as it always looks great even in small doses.
Tip
The motif line runs through the middle of the stitch.
Right-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from left to right. Bring the needle up below the motif line, cross over to the top right and take a little stitch to the left above the line.
Cross over to the bottom right, and take a little stitch to the left. The needle should come out directly below the stitch above. Continue to line up the top end of a diagonal stitch with the bottom start of another for a nice, even line of stitching.
Left-handers (black dot indicates start point)
Work from right to left. Bring the needle up below the motif line, cross over to the top left and take a little stitch to the right above the line.
Cross
