Embroidery Techniques and Stitches
🧵 1. Basic Embroidery Stitches
➤ Running Stitch
Use: Outlining, borders, quilting
How: Simple in-and-out stitch along a line.
Skill Level: Beginner
Tip: Keep stitch and gap lengths even for a clean look.
➤ Back Stitch
Use: Outlining, text, sharp lines
How: Each stitch goes backward to meet the end of the previous one.
Skill Level: Beginner
Variation: Split back stitch (for thicker lines)
➤ Stem Stitch
Use: Curves, outlines, flower stems
How: Overlapping stitch that curves naturally
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Looks Like: A twisted rope
➤ Satin Stitch
Use: Filling shapes
How: Stitches are placed side-by-side to fill space with thread
Skill Level: Intermediate
Tips: Use a stabilizer for clean edges; short stitches on curves.
➤ Split Stitch
Use: Outlines, curves
How: The needle splits the previous stitch
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Effect: Soft and textured
➤ Chain Stitch
Use: Borders, outlines, floral designs
How: Loops linked like a chain
Skill Level: Beginner
Variation: Open chain, twisted chain
➤ Lazy Daisy (Detached Chain)
Use: Petals, leaves
How: One loop anchored with a small straight stitch
Skill Level: Beginner
🌸 2. Decorative and Advanced Stitches
➤ French Knot
Use: Flower centers, texture
How: Thread is wrapped around the needle before stitching down
Skill Level: Intermediate
Tip: Tighten evenly; practice for consistency
➤ Bullion Knot
Use: Roses, vines, spirals
How: Wrap thread multiple times and pull through the coil
Skill Level: Advanced
Looks Like: A tiny coiled worm or sausage
➤ Couching
Use: Thick thread/ribbon embellishments
How: Lay down a thick thread and sew it down with small stitches
Skill Level: Easy
Variation: Laid work (for larger areas)
➤ Feather Stitch
Use: Borders, vines, leaves
How: Branching, looping stitch
Skill Level: Intermediate
➤ Fly Stitch
Use: Leaves, vines, surface design
How: V-shaped stitch anchored at the bottom
Skill Level: Beginner
➤ Herringbone Stitch
Use: Borders, decorative background
How: Crisscrossed diagonal stitches
Skill Level: Intermediate
➤ Fishbone Stitch
Use: Filling leaves
How: Alternating stitches that overlap slightly
Skill Level: Intermediate
Effect: Realistic leaf veins
🌍 3. Specialized Techniques
✴️ Cross Stitch
Use: Counted embroidery on grid fabric (like Aida)
How: Two diagonal stitches crossing each other
Skill Level: Beginner to Expert (depends on pattern complexity)
✴️ Blackwork
Use: Historic or geometric fill designs
How: Repeated geometric patterns, often with back stitch
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
✴️ Whitework
Use: Monochrome embroidery (white on white)
How: Uses satin, eyelet, and pulled thread stitches
Skill Level: Advanced
Note: Emphasizes texture over color
✴️ Ribbon Embroidery
Use: Dimensional floral patterns
Materials: Silk or satin ribbons
Stitches Used: Ribbon stitch, lazy daisy, straight stitch
Skill Level: Intermediate
✴️ Goldwork
Use: Ornamental, formal embroidery
Materials: Metallic threads (gold/silver)
Technique: Couching metallic threads on surface
Skill Level: Advanced
