Ladder stitch Tutorial

Ladder stitch Tutorial

Ladder stitch that is great for borders and edges but also can be worked in a free form and chunky manner to create some great effects. I have worked this sample in hand dyed perle 5 thread on linen. I used the weave of the linen as a guide for the stitch but you may find it useful to mark 2 parallel lines which can act as a guide. As usual make sure you use a dissolvable pen (these can be purchased in quilting shops)

How to work Ladder Stitch

step 1 of ladder stitch

Work Ladder stitch in a vertical line down your piece.Bring your thread to the front of your fabric on the left side of the line you plan to work and make a straight  horizontal stitch across the width of line, taking your thread to back on the right.

step 2 of ladder stitch

Bring your thread to the front of the fabric, just above, and to the left from where it entered the fabric.

step 3 of ladder stitch

Make a small diagonal stitch, over the straight stitch. It will make a small small cross stitch, and in the process taking the needle to the back of the fabric.

Ladder stitch step 4

 Bring your needle from the back just below where you started to stitch on the left hand side.

Ladder stitch step 5

Slide your needle under the horizontal stitch.

Ladder stitch step 6

Pull your needle through to form your first edge.

Ladder stitch step 7

Take your needle across to the right side and slide the needle under the crossed stitch as illustrated.

Ladder stitch step 8

Pull the needle through to form a loop on the edge.

Ladder stitch step 9

Take the needle to the back of the fabric just below the loop but on the line.

Ladder stitch step 10

On the left hand side bring your needle out below the previous stitch but on the vertical line.

Ladder stitch step 11

Slide your needle under the thread from right to left as illustrated.

Ladder stitch step 12

Take your needle across to the right hand side, and slide the needle from right to left under the loop as illustrated.

Ladder stitch complete

Continue in this manner down the line. As you can see the stitch form a broad line. This line can be wavy, and follow a gradual curve. You can also lace ribbon and interesting threads through the rungs of the ladder.

I hope you enjoy Ladder stitch!

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Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery book cover

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22 Comments

  1. i’ve decided to give the TAST a try.
    i worked up last weeks stitch and this weeks stitch and posted it within my blog.
    i’m very much looking forward to seeing what others are doing with these stitches.
    thank you sharon b for offering this wonderful opportunity for learning more about an art form that i adore: embroidery/embellishment.

    🙂
    libbyQ

    p.s. hopefully i’ve linked in properly . . . not sure just how this works as it’s my first time with this set-up.

    http://simpletosublimepapernapkinpoetry.blogspot.com/

  2. Sigh – each and every stitch looks like so much fun. Someday, im going to print out all the stitches I missed, sit down and try ALL of them. Just as soon as I have a minute . . .

    Keep them coming! I’m watching, even if I’m not participating right now. 🙂

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