By CraftingStepByStepPublished Updated
Based on a video by Craftsy.
Hand embroidery uses a handful of basic stitches combined in different ways. Learn four of them and you can make flowers, text, borders, and filled shapes. That covers most beginner projects.
Craftsy walks through each stitch slowly with close-up shots so you can see exactly where the needle goes. The video uses different colored thread for each stitch so they are easy to tell apart.
Two or three out of the six. Floss comes as six strands twisted together, and splitting it down gives you finer, neater stitches with less bulk. Save all six for bold outlines where you want the line to read from a distance.
Running stitch, because it is just evenly spaced dashes and it teaches you consistent stitch length. Once your spacing is even, back stitch and chain stitch both come quickly.
Running stitch leaves gaps between the dashes. Back stitch goes down into the hole where the last stitch ended, so the line is solid with no breaks. Use back stitch any time you want clean lettering or a defined outline.
Usually from separating the strands too fast, which lets them twist around each other. Pull them apart slowly, one at a time, and work with shorter lengths. Long floss also twists on itself as you stitch.
Outline the shape in back stitch first, then lay the satin stitches side by side across it, tight and parallel. The outline gives you a firm edge to stitch up to, which is what makes the fill look sharp instead of ragged.
5 steps · about 6 minutes.Check off each step as you go and your progress saves automatically.
Embroidery floss comes as six strands twisted together. For most beginner work, you use two or three strands at a time. Hold the end of the floss and gently pull three strands to one side.
Go slowly as you separate them. If you rush, the strands twist around each other and knot up. Thread your needle with the separated strands and tie a knot at the other end.
The simplest stitch. Come up through the back of the fabric, go back down a stitch length away, then come back up another stitch length further. You are making evenly spaced dashes along a line.
Keep your stitch lengths consistent for a clean look. This stitch is used for outlines, borders, and dashed line effects.
Start like a running stitch. Come up, go back down one stitch length. Then come up one stitch length ahead, but go back down into the same hole where the previous stitch ended. This creates a solid continuous line with no gaps.
Back stitch is the most used outline stitch in embroidery. It makes clean, defined lines for text, shapes, and borders.
Come up through the back and go back down right next to where you came up, leaving a small loop on the front. Bring the needle back up through the loop and pull snug. That is one chain link.
Repeat by going back down next to where you just came up, leaving a loop, and coming up through it again. To end the chain, make a small stitch over the last loop to lock it in place.
Satin stitch fills in a shape with smooth parallel lines. Come up at one edge of the shape, go down at the opposite edge, then come back up right next to your first stitch. Keep the stitches tight and parallel.
For a polished look, outline the shape with back stitch first, then fill it with satin stitch. You can also save thread by coming up right next to where you went down instead of crossing behind the fabric each time.
Keep going
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E6000 Craft Adhesive, Clear (3.7 oz)
The industrial-strength craft glue that bonds glass, wood, ceramic, metal, fabric, and concrete. The one adhesive most craft projects reach for.
Gorilla
Gorilla Dual-Temp Full-Size Hot Glue Gun
Dual-temp so it handles delicate florals and heavy materials alike. A precise nozzle and built-in stand make it the everyday craft-table gun.
OLFA
OLFA 18" x 24" Self-Healing Cutting Mat
The pro-standard cutting surface. Gridlines for square cuts, self-healing so blades never leave grooves, and big enough for paper, fabric, and leather.
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5 questions covering what you just read. No signup, no score saved, and you can stop after this one.
Question 1 of 5
Embroidery floss comes as six strands twisted together. For most beginner work, how many strands do you use at a time?
Quick reference
5 questions, answers, and one-line explanations. Tap to expand.
1.Embroidery floss comes as six strands twisted together. For most beginner work, how many strands do you use at a time?
Answer: Two or three strands
Two or three is the standard for most beginner work.
2.What's the simplest embroidery stitch - a series of evenly-spaced dashes along a line?
Answer: Running stitch
Running stitch is the simplest - just evenly spaced dashes.
3.Which stitch creates a SOLID continuous line with no gaps - the most-used outline stitch?
Answer: Back stitch
Back stitch fills the gap between running-stitch dashes by going BACK into the previous stitch's hole.
4.Which stitch is used to FILL IN a shape with smooth parallel lines?
Answer: Satin stitch
Satin stitch fills shapes; outline first with back stitch, then fill with satin.
5.How do you make a chain stitch?
Answer: Come up, go back down right next to where you came up leaving a loop, then come up through the loop and pull snug
Chain stitch creates linked loops - each new loop comes up through the previous one.
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