
Detached Chain is often one of the first stitches people learn. Many people call this stitch: ‘daisy stitch’, ‘lazy daisy stitch’, ‘tall chain stitch’, ‘loop stitch’, ‘tied loop stitch’, ‘picot stitch’, and ‘knotted knot stitch’. But don’t let those names lead you into thinking that you can only make flowers with it.
What’s in a Name?
We call Detached Chain by that name because that is what it is, a single chain stitch. You can use it to create all sorts of patterns and textures. For instance, I stitched the sample above on hand-dyed Aida cloth. I arranged the Detached chain stitches in a grid and secured the sequins with a seed bead in the spaces. It is a pattern that you can use to work on a small item such as a bag or purse, for instance.

This sample makes a really nice border pattern. I have arranged the detached chain stitches in sets of three in a fan shape. In addition, I secured the centre detached chain stitch with a small chain rather than a straight stitch. And I have added a seed bead to the head of the stitches. I worked the next sample over sequin waste to create a medallion pattern.
How to work Lazy Daisy or Detached Chain stitch
Bring the needle up through the fabric and hold the thread with the left thumb. Insert the needle as illustrated, so that the point emerges a short distance away.

With the thread wrapped under the needle’s point, pull the needle through the fabric.

To fasten the loop, make a small straight stitch.

As you can see, you can easily work the stitch in a circle to create flower shapes.

The next 2 samples are Detached Chain stitches used in crazy quilting.

In this sample, I combined Detached Chain with straight stitches and seed and novelty beads to work along the edge of lace. The thread I used was cotton perle #5.

In this sample, I used Detached Chain along the edge of lace. If you want to see this detail in context you can see the whole block and have the pattern for Block 99 free.

Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?

Create your own designs with Sharon’s easy-to-use stitchers templates. Combine shapes to create hundreds of patterns and designs to embroider. It is the ultimate mix-and-match fun for stitchers of all skill levels. I created them to be as versatile as possible. I include four multi-patterned templates in each set. You will find them easy to use, totally clear to help you position them on your work, and they are nice and compact to fit in your sewing box. Each set comes with an e-book filled with patterns and designs that you can create and use as a jumping-off spot for your own designs. They are available now in our shop here!
Happy stitching!

A very small bit of my Tast on my blog.This is a small mixture of the past few weeks.
http://backvalleyseasons.blogpot.com
My piece for week 7 is posted on my blog at:
http://www.readingandstitchinginil.com/2012/02/tast-week-7-detached-chain.html
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/album/newWithUploader?id=&uploadBatch=1329614179
Sharon here is my next page for TAST 2012
i'm another one of those who knew this stitch as a lazy daisy.
it's good to learn the proper names as we go along.
my work with this stitch are here: http://simpletosublimepapernapkinpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-7-detached-chain-stitch.html
🙂
libbyQ
How fun, I made a wildflower garden with mine, wishing for spring!! http://lovelymesses.blogspot.com/
I had fun with this stitch: http://textiledreamer.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/take-a-stitch-tuesday-2012-week-7-detached-chain-stitch/
Sharon
Two more samples from me.
http://shamiatcraft.blogspot.in/2012/02/tast-2012-week7-detached-chain-stitch.html
My first sample is here
http://shamiatcraft.blogspot.in/2012/02/tast-2012-week-7-detached-chain.html
Shami Immanuel.
I didn't know the lazy daisy stitch was also called the detached chain stitch. Here's my practice piece:
http://suztats.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-7.html
I haven't written my "offical TAST post of the week" yet (and probably won't until next week), but you can already see some of my chain stitches in this post: http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com/2012/02/aurica-sampler-part-1.html
It's a round-up of all the TAST stitches I've done so far in my aurica yarn. It's the same pic as the one I posted in the Flickr group.
I didn't experiment much, but here's my post about this stitch:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2012/02/detached-chain-stitch.html
I post my work of the week here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/severine14/6896487397/in/pool-56846286@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/severine14/6896487403/in/pool-56846286@N00/
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/tast-week7-detached-chain-stitch?context=latest
Severine
As you probably know I am in the middle of a Pebble Adventure. Tha lazy daisy stitch is used to embroider some beads in the project. Here is the link: http://threads-and-patches.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-6-detached-chain-stitch.html
You can find my detached chain stitch block here:
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/detachedchain
Oh this so much fun. week 7 posted on my blog.
http://pippaquilts.blogspot.com/
Finally finished my sample of detatched chain! I always thought of this stitche as boring – not any more 🙂
Barbara
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/week-7-detatched-chain?context=user
Here's my small example:
http://stitchesandwhimsies.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-2012-week-seven-detached-chain.html
This week's sample is finished. I have blogged at http://www.carorose.typepad.com and posted to the Flikr site http://www.flickr.com/groups/56846286@N00/
I almost forgot! My mini-sampler this week 🙂
http://fanaticalseamstress.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/punto-de-cadeneta-suelta/
I didn't get a lot of time for stitching this week but I am quite happy with what I did and I can see a lot of potential in using this stitch in the future. There's a photo on my blog: http://kirajones.co.uk/?p=618
This week's stitch came out surprisingly simple and effective. http://nipetnapet.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-2012-week-7.html
Here is my attempt at detached chain stich of the week7.
http://withbrushandneedle.blogspot.in/2012/02/tast-12-week-7-detached-chain-stitch.html
preethi.
Just a little bit of detached chain posted on my blog.
Fun, as always!
http://thetruevine.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/take-a-stitch-tuesday-lazy-daisy-stitch/
http://saneandcrazy.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-chevron-and-lazy-daisy.html
The first stitch grandma taught me. I think of her whenever I stitch it.
Here's my lazy daisy sample!
http://adventuresinthread.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-7-ups-daisy.html
I had fun with the Detached Chain stitch:
http://textileexplorations.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-2012-detached-chain-stitch.html
Hi Sharon & Everyone!
My post for the week.
Happy Carnival for all!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luiz_vaz/6892702891/
Hi Sharon & Everyone!
My post for the week.
Happy Carnival for all!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luiz_vaz/6892702891/
Thanks Sharon, for helping to get back to hand embroidery. My work is here
http://ranjana-craft-blog.blogspot.in/2012/02/tast-challenge-2012-week-7.html
You can see my most recent work on my blog:http://cantheleopardchangeherspots.blogspot.com/
I got my Chevron Stitch finished late, but I just finished the Detached Chain Stitch.
I've added samples to my blog. http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com
Hi Sharon, absolutely loved this stitch, this is my sample for week 7, you can
find it here !
http://ellascraftcreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-2012-detached-chain-week-7.html
Certainly an old favorite. Memories. Sitting on the floor with a hoop, some variegated floss and a printed pillowcases. Old songs. Chain, chain, chain of fools. Unchain my heart. I hope someone stitched those lyrics.
http://yarngoddess.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/stitching-chains/
Diane
Hi Sharon
I skipped a few weeks, but I'm back on track, I'll catch up with the weeks missed. here is my Detached chain sample. Thanks. Patricia
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40774498@N06/6891008885/in/photostream
My TAST detached chain stitch for this week, Week 7.
http://debbiesfiberwork.blogspot.com/2012/02/tast-week-7.html
Sharon
Unbelievably I am two days earlier than usual. I can't say Detached Chain filled me with masses of inspiration but I tried a couple of variations of use – pictures on http://maggies-textiles.blogspot.com.au/
Thankyou
margb
Love this stitch..here is my sample http://easycrafts.blogspot.in/2012/02/detatched-chain-stitch.html
My trials with lazy daisy,
http://threadwithme.blogspot.in/2012/02/lazy-daisy-magic-tast-2012.html
raji
I learned a new technique using lazy daisy see here
http://threadwithme.blogspot.in/2012/02/chemanthy-variation-2.html
raji.
Here's my post for this week's stitch. http://airynothing.net/Blogs/anblog/2012/02/15/detached-chain-stitch-lazy-daisy