STEM STITCH
An outline stitch with neatly overlapping lines.
Can be used to:
Represent the stems of flowers as detail, right
Follow curves easily, but not on small motifs
Create texture
Right-handers
Work from left to right. Bring the needle up at the start point and make a stitch forward. Take a tiny stitch backwards from right to left. Pull the needle through, keeping the thread above the needle.
Keep your stitches quite small as they do tend to grow in length.
Take another small stitch to the right bringing the needle out near the hole of the last stitch.
As you continue to stitch the stitches take on a diagonal slant.
Left-handers
Work from right to left. Bring the needle up at the start point and make a stitch backward. Take a tiny stitch forwards from left to right. Pull the needle through, keeping the thread above the needle.
Take another small stitch to the left bringing the needle out near the hole of the last stitch.
As you continue to stitch the stitches take on a diagonal slant.
CHAIN STITCH
A series of looped stitches worked to form a chain-like pattern.
Aim for an even row of equally spaced stitches.
Can be used to:
Outline an embroidery motif
Create flower stems
Fill in a shape when worked in close rows as detail, right
Right-handers
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
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.
Can be used to:
Make lovely flowers
Create perfect leaves
Embroider seeds when worked very small
Right-handers
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
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.
If you pull the stitches tight you get long thin petals, if you sew them loosely they are plump and fat.
WHIPPED RUNNING STITCH
Whip a second thread through a line of running stitch for a decorative variation on this simple stitch.
