Embroidery is a versatile and enjoyable craft used to decorate various fabrics and items. Whether you’re new to embroidery or have been stitching for years, there are many decorative embroidery stitches that you can learn to take your projects to the next level.
Decorative Embroidery Stitches Guide
Here are a few embroidery stitches that everyone should learn:
Backstitch – This basic stitch is great for outlining and creating precise lines. It’s worked by bringing the needle up through the fabric and then back down, creating a line of stitches.
Backstitch is a simple embroidery stitch often used to outline and create precise lines in a design. Here’s how you can do backstitch:
- Thread your needle with embroidery floss or thread. It’s often best to use a single strand of embroidery floss for backstitch, but you can adjust the number of strands to create a thicker or thinner line as needed.
- Bring the needle up through the fabric at the starting point of your line. The starting point will be the point where you want to begin stitching.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric a short distance from the starting point. This will be the first stitch of your line.
- Bring the needle up through the fabric again, a short distance beyond the end of the first stitch.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric at the end of the first stitch, creating a straight line.
- Repeat this process, bringing the needle up through the fabric a short distance beyond the end of the previous stitch and then inserting it back down into the fabric at the end of the previous stitch.
- Continue stitching this way, following your design’s line until you reach your line’s end.
French Knot – A small, decorative knot that can add texture and interest to your designs. It’s made by wrapping the thread around the needle several times and then inserting it back into the fabric.
To make a French Knot:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric where you want the knot.
- Hold the thread with your non-dominant hand and wrap it twice around the needle.
- Holding the thread taut, insert the needle back into the fabric near the starting point.
- Gently pull the needle through the fabric, keeping the thread taut until the knot forms.
Satin Stitch – A flat, smooth stitch that can fill in larger areas of your design. It’s worked by bringing the needle up through the fabric and then back down, creating a series of stitches that lay side by side. Here’s how to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric at the starting point of your shape.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric at the end point of the shape.
- Bring the needle back up through the fabric next to the starting point.
- Continue stitching back and forth, filling in the shape with stitches that lie side by side. Keep the stitches close together and create a smooth, solid surface.
Chain Stitch – A decorative stitch that can outline or fill in designs. It creates a series of loops with the thread and pulls the needle through each loop to create a chain. Here’s how to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric at the starting point of your line.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric at the starting point, leaving a thread loop on the surface.
- Bring the needle back up through the fabric inside the loop and pull the thread through.
- Continue stitching in the same way, making each stitch inside the loop of the previous stitch to create a chain-like effect.
Stem Stitch – A versatile stitch that can outline, fill in, or create curves. It’s worked by bringing the needle up through the fabric and then inserting it back in slightly to one side, creating a slanted line of stitches.
Here’s how to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric at the starting point of your line.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric slightly to one side of the starting point.
- Bring the needle back up through the fabric a short distance beyond the starting point and insert it back down into the fabric slightly to the opposite side of the line.
- Continue stitching the same way, alternating sides of the line with each stitch.
Fly Stitch – A fun and decorative stitch that can create flowers or leaves. It’s made by creating a loop with the thread and then bringing the needle up through the fabric from underneath, catching the loop to create a “V” shape.
Here’s how to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric at the starting point of your stitch.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric a short distance away from the starting point and to one side of your line.
- Bring the needle back up through the fabric a short distance away from the first stitch and on the opposite side of the line.
- Bring the needle under the thread between the two stitches, creating a loop.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric on the opposite side of the line.
- Repeat the process, stitching a series of fly stitches along your line and adjusting the size and spacing of the stitches as needed to create the desired shape.
Bullion Knot – A textured knot that can be used for creating flower centers or other decorative elements. It’s made by wrapping the thread around the needle several times and then inserting it back into the fabric, twisting the needle as you go. Here’s how to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the fabric where you want to create the knot.
- Wrap the thread around the needle several times, holding the loops in place with your non-dominant hand.
- Insert the needle back down into the fabric near the starting point.
- Gently pull the needle through the fabric, keeping the loops taut until the knot forms.
Here read more about embroidery vs cross stitch
Tips for Decorative Embroidery Stitches:
- Practice on scrap fabric before starting your final project.
- Use the right needle and thread for your fabric.
- Keep your stitches consistent in size and tension.
- Experiment with different stitch lengths, widths, and thread colors to create texture and interest.
- Have fun, and don’t be afraid to try new things!