Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches

A Visual Guide for Quilters and Sewists

Robin Strobel

ShopMartingale.com

Backstitch

Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches

Heres 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 youre venturing out on your own, use embroidery oss or pearl cotton with a wide-eye embroidery needle. Embroidery 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 dierent weights 3, 5, 8, and 12 with the lowest number indicating the heaviest thread.

Blanket stitch

Corner blanket stitch

Closed blanket stitch

2 3

2 3

2 3

Crossed blanket stitch

Indented blanket stitch

Knotted blanket stitch

Pyramid blanket stitch

Sawtooth blanket stitch

Serpentine blanket stitch

2 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches

Slanted blanket stitch

Chain stitch

Couching

1 2 4 3

Cretan stitch

Cross-stitch

Feather stitch

2 3 5

Fly stitch

French knot (2 winds)

French knot (3 winds)

1 2 3 4

1 2 4
1 2

32 4

Herringbone stitch

Lazy daisy or detached chain stitch

Long stitch

3 2 1 5 4 2 1

3 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches

Running stitch (var. 1)

Running stitch (var. 2)

Satin stitch (var. 1)

Satin stitch (var. 2)

Snowake stitch

Spiderweb stitch

8 3 6

5 4 7

2 3

3 5 4

7 6 8

Star stitch (var. 1)

Star stitch (var. 2)

Stem stitch or outline stitch

6 3 2 5 8 7

3 1

Straight stitch

Whipstitch

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2 1

1 2 3

2 1 3

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4 Common Hand-Embroidery Stitches