Embroidery Stitch Directory
These embroidery stitches are the basis for different styles of embroidery. They are generally not used in counted thread embroidery, but surface embroidery.
Each of these basic stitches has many variations, so be sure to check each page for more information and full tutorials.
Running Stitches
Running stitch is a utilitarian stitch, so it is often overlooked as an embroidery stitch. But it is both easy and effective
Running Stitches include:
- running stitch
- long and short running stitch
- darning stitch
- two-colour darning stitch
- Japanese darning stitch
- glove stitch
- Holbein stitch
- wrapped running stitch
- two-colour wrapped running stitch
- double wrapped running stitch
- two-colour double wrapped running stitch
- three-colour double wrapped running stitch
- laced running stitch
- two-colour laced running stitch
- double laced running stitch
- two-colour double laced running stitch
- interlaced running stitch
- two-colour interlaced running stitch
- three-colour interlaced running stitch
- two-colour double interlaced running stitch
- three-colour double interlaced running stitch
Back Stitches
Back stitch is a foundational stitch that every embroiderer should practice. Once basic back stitch is mastered, there are a lot of fun variations that can be used.
Back Stitches include:
- basic back stitch
- stem stitch
- encroaching stem stitch
- outline stitch
- chevron
- split stitch
- triple back stitch
- Pekinese
- Portuguese knotted stem stitch
- turkey work
- zig zag stitch
- wrapped back stitch
- wrapped 2-colour back stitch
- double wrapped back stitch
- double wrapped 2-colour back stitch
- double wrapped 3-colour back stitch
- laced back stitch
- laced 2-colour back stitch
- double laced back stitch
- double laced 2-colour back stitch
- double laced 3-colour back stitch
- interlaced back stitch
- interlaced 2-colour back stitch
- interlaced 3-colour back stitch
Chain Stitches
Chain stitches can be used in a group or individually (called detached chain or lazy daisy).
Chain Stitches include:
Straight Stitches
Straight stitches are both some of the easiest and some of the trickiest embroidery stitches, but with practice, they are all beautiful.
Cross Stitches
Not to be confused with counted cross stitch, a counted thread type of embroidery, cross stitches are a fun option in surface embroidery.
Cross Stitches include:
- single cross stitch
- star
- herringbone
- closed herringbone
- fishbone
- long armed cross stitch
Feather Stitches
Feather stitches are quick and fun embroidery stitches.
Feather stitches include:
- feather stitch
- cretan stitch
- close fly
- long armed feather
- close feather
Knots
Knots are used to embellish many types of embroidery. French knots are the most famous, but there are many other types of knots.
Knots include:
- French knot
- bullion
- colonial knot
- Chinese knot
- scroll stitch
- coral stitch
Blanket Stitches
Blanket stitches are often used in hems and applique, but with imagination, they can be used in many other ways in an embroidery project.
Blanket Stitches include:
- blanket stitch
- buttonhole stitch
- slanted blanket stitch
- long and short blanket stitch
Couching
Couching is am embroider technique in which a thread or other fibre is tacked onto the surface of the base fabric by a fine thread. It can be used for lines or to fill spaces.
Couching includes:
- couching a single line
- bricking
- square laid filling
- battlement filling
- trellis and cross filling
- Jacobean filling
- open looped pendant
- thorn
- fish scale
- Romanian
- sheaf
.
More Embroidery Resources
On-demand Video Courses
Learn at your own pace with these embroidery video courses.
Hand Embroidery Patterns
Get fun embroidery patterns in my shop.
Detailed Tutorials
Get detailed embroidery tutorials to help you make your own hand stitching projects more easily. Lots of pictures and videos to make everything clear.
Embroidery Stitches
Check out the Embroidery Stitch Directory for lots of inspiration.