Embroidering with Stem Stitch
Stem stitch is a common embroidery stitch that can be used for far more than stems. This embroidery stitch is useful anytime you want to stitch a line.
It is actually a variation of back stitch. Check out basic back stitch and lots of other variations HERE.
See it all
Below you will find:
- video
- ideas for using stem stitch in an embroidery project
- tutorial for stitching stem stitch
- inspiration projects that use stem stitch
When to use stem stitch
- stems (obviously)
- outlines
- lettering
- stripes
- anywhere you want a smooth line
How to do stem stitch
Bring the thread to the front of the fabric. Similar to back stitch, the line can be worked from right to left or left to right.
Again, similar to backstitch, put the needle in behind the starting point, and bring it up in front (the direction you are moving). The difference between stem stitch and back stitch is that the needle is at a slight angle to the line you are making. It goes in at the bottom of the line and comes up at the top.
For the next stitch, the needle goes in BESIDE the stitch that was just made, just underneath it in the middle of the stitch. The needle comes up again just ahead of the stitch. These stitches are usually longer than back stitches. Notice that the stitches overlap quite a bit.
Continue in this way, taking the stitch back beside the line, and out a bit at the front. This line will be wider than backstitch with the same strands of thread, because there are two stitches beside each other.
When you’re done, you have a nice smooth line!
Stem stitch variations
Encroaching stem stitch
Encroaching stem stitch is a wider version good for thick borders or lines.
See Encroaching Stem Stitch tutorial
Portuguese knotted stem stitch
This back stitch forms a knotted line.
See Portuguese Knotted Stem Stitch tutorial
Outline stitch
Outline stitch is like stem stitch, but the thread is on top of the stitch
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.