Butterfly Chain
Butterfly Chain stitch is a decorative composite stitch that is more versatile than it appears at first. You can easily overlook this stitch when browsing a stitch dictionary, but it is a lot of fun to work. And if you vary the threads, you can create lots of interesting effects.
You can also use it to create decorative borders on many types of fabrics. Your foundation is not restricted to an even-weave fabric. Also, you can easily work Butterfly Chain stitch on the curve. So you can develop a totally different look to the stitch, simply by letting it follow a gentle line. Another way of using the stitch is to take advantage of contrasting threads. Since Butterfly Chain stitch is worked in two journeys, you can easily change the colour or type of thread to create an interesting area on your hand embroidery.
How to Work Butterfly Chain Stitch
Work a foundation row of three vertical straight stitches. With this stitch, watch the space between the foundation blocks, as the space between the groups of stitches should be about the same width as the area covered by the three stitches.
On the second journey, bring your thread up from the back of the fabric and tie each group of stitches together with a twisted chain stitch.
To tie each block of stitches, pass the needle under the three straight stitches (not through the fabric), and wrap the thread across the needle and then pull the needle through to form a twisted chain.
Before moving on to the next block of straight stitches, tension each twisted chain stitch to clutch the group of three foundation straight stitches together. Continue in this manner along the line.
On the second journey, do not allow the needle to enter the ground fabric except at the beginning and end of the row.
It is traditional to work a foundation row of three vertical straight stitches, but you can vary their scale. For example, making the middle straight stitch longer than side two. The thread that you use to clutch the foundation stitches together, can be of heavier weight or a different colour. It can also be a ribbon or fine cord. There are lots of things you can do with this stitch.
You can zig-zag it, work it in squares, along a curve, etc
You can stack lines of the stitch to create patterns.
If you have enjoyed this stitch you might like to try Beaded Butterfly Chain too!
Have you seen my book?
My book The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design: Simple Stitches, Stunning Results
Stitchers templates
My templates aim to help you take your stitching to the next level. Designed by an embroiderer for embroiderers. With them, you can create hundreds of different hand embroidery patterns to embellish with flair. These templates are easy to use. I made them of clear plastic so you can position them easily and are compact in your sewing box.
These are simple to use. You simply position the template in place and use a quilter’s pencil to trace along the edge of the template. Stitch along this line to decorate the seam. I have a free ebook of patterns to accompany each set which illustrates how they can be used.
TO ORDER your Stitchers Templates
Crazy Quilt Templates set 1 you will find here
Crazy Quilt Templates set 2 you will find here
My samples are here. Thanks
http://hobbysewing.blogspot.com/2020/09/tast-15-beyond-tast-15.html
2018 TAST stitch 25: https://www.thecrafties.com/2018/11/tast-roundup-2/ 🙂
Here is my butterfly chain sample – http://hokkaidokudasai.blogspot.jp/2015/12/take-stitch-tuesday-20-butterfly-chain.html
Thanks!
Hello Sharon! I enjoyed learning this new stitch although it was difficult to master! Here is a link to my attempts at it! Christine x
http://patchworkallsorts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/tast-week-twenty-butterfly-chain.html
Pleased you enjoyed it Christine I took a look at your blog and you have some interesting experiments on it.
I am way behind, but my Butterfly Chain is finally posted. You can see it here: http://www.linda-hubbard.blogspot.ca/2012/07/tast-week-20-butterfly-chain-stitch.html
A little bit of catch-up work:
http://textileexplorations.blogspot.de/2012/06/tast-2012-butterfly-chain-and-bullion.html
Of course I am late by a week. But I enjoyed doing this stitch. I posted the trials in my blog.
viji
a simple stitch with possibilities.
here is what i did with it:
http://simpletosublimepapernapkinpoetry.blogspot.com/
🙂
libbyQ
Enjoyed this stitch, and tied the colors I used into those seen quite a bit this past weekend:
http://harvestmoonbyhand.blogspot.com/2012/05/take-stitch-tuesday-butterfly-chain.html
As with past weeks, the samplers are included in my journal that includes a personal entry, a list of things for which I’m grateful, and a collage of images that represent what I saw or did during the week.
Butterfly Chain Stitch:
http://debbies-doings.blogspot.ca/2012/05/tast-week-21.html
I had fun with this stitch.
http://eclecticlamb.com/2012/05/28/week-21-tast-butterfly-chain-stitch/
Butterfly chain stitch:
http://flowerkaleidoscope.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-2012-butterfly-chain-stitch.html
My stitching can be seen here.
http://kathysnest32.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/tast-2012-week-21-bullion-knot-stitch/
Butterfly chain stitch:
http://thetruevine.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/take-a-stitch-tuesday-butterfly-chain-stitch/
Butterfly stitch is up along with some of the other stitches. Blogged at http://www.therosejournal.blogspot.com/2012/05/im-here-im-here.html
Rose
Here’s my blog post on Butterfly Chain Stitch. I hope I use this again in the future as it’s quite a cute little stitch. http://kirajones.co.uk/?p=801
My sample for this week is here: http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/butterflychain
as I don’t know this stitch before, I do a little sampler ;It is on my blog: http://dufall.blogspot.fr/
and on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/severine14/7278269864/in/pool-56846286@N00
not too much, but something 🙂
http://alovchany.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-tast-butterfly.html
I managed to get a little bit done. This is for last week and this week. http://airynothing.net/Blogs/anblog/2012/05/26/tast-catch-up
I was distressed by the image of chaining butterflys that sprang to mind when I first saw this stitch. Here is the link to my blog post.
http//www.carorose.typepad.com
and to my Flikr post
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carorose/7276512802/in/pool-56846286@N00/
Cheers
Carolyn
I have posted 2 new samples and 2 old ones from Tast 1.
It is such an easy stitch. There are some lovely examples from others this week
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazyqstitcher/7276216386/in/photostream/
Hi Friends, my post for the Butterfly Stitch. Thank you all!
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/sunday-morning?context=latest
or
http://embroiderland.blogspot.com.br/
Hi Sharon. I am really enjoying your TAST 2012 Challenge. I have been putting my stitches on my Blog. Unfortunately I just cannot get the link to Pintangle to work. I clicked on the Permalink button but I really haven’t a clue what to try next ? Take care. Marion x
Marion if i have time I will write an email but blogger help has directions on how to do it here is the link
http://support.google.com/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=41379
hello,
my work and that of my daughter are here :
http://pierrespapiersciseaux.blogspot.fr/2012/05/tast-semaine-21-le-point-de-gerbe.html
Isabelle
Here i have posted my attempt on butterfly chain stitch.http://nalinihandwork.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast-2012-week-21-butterfly-chain.html
http://nalinihandwork.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast-2012-week-21-butterfly-chain.html
I stitched 2 half rows with butterfly chain stitch variations on my brown sampler. I wrote about it here:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2012/05/butterfly-chain-stitch.html
and here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28957501@N04/7273936554/in/photostream
I’m working two pieces this week. May not finish the second one before the weekend is done, so here is the first:
http://theshopsampler.wordpress.com
My week 21 is done–as well as week 20 (which was late). You can see them both on my blog:
http://cantheleopardchangeherspots.blogspot.com/
I liked doing both stitches.
Hello!
I got behind on my stitches, but trying to get back into it now. Really liked this stitch 🙂
Blog: http://hetkabinet.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-2012-errrrrr-21.html
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hetkabinet/sets/72157628775088487/
It is a new stitch for me too, I didn’t like it to start with but it grew on me
http://linsartyblobs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tast-21-and-sc.html
Hi Sharon,
I am working on samples of this week’s stitch in combination with other stitches. the details are here-
http://jizee6687.wordpress.com/category/tast-2012/21-butterfly-chains-stitch2/
thank you,
Chitra
The earlier work of Annet of Fat Quarter was the inspiration of my piece; http://borduurblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/vliegertje.html
I have tried this butterfly chain stitch in a circle. This can be found here.
http://hobbysewing.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast-21-butterfly-chain-stitch.html
Hi,
Excited to view the variations all my friends have made.
Here iam sharing a simple application of that stitch on my daily wear, http://threadwithme.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast2012-butterfly-chain-stitch.html
Raji.
this is a new stitch for me, too.
http://playfulstitching.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/butterfly-chain-stitch/
I think I like some of the others much better!
Lack of time means I’ve only made the simplest sampler. However, the stitch, although new to me, was great fun to work with.
http://web.mac.com/queeniepatch/Queeniepatch_Quilts/Blog/Entries/2012/5/25_TAST_2012%2C_Week_21.html
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/tast-2012-week-21?context=user
New stitch for me to, easy and pleasant to stitch, but not really inspirational. http://j-en-revais.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-21.html
Hi Sharon, loved this stitch !
Here is my sample……………………………………….
http://ellascraftcreations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/tast-2012-butterfly-chain-week-21.html
hugs
chris richards
xxxx
http://www.flickr.com/photos/upload/done/
I tried and tried and found it nice to do.
Hello! This is my first TAST and I like it 🙂 I’m beginer in embroideling. Thank you for this project. http://anuta-tuta.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-post_24.html
Here is my first try on butterfly chain stitch.
http://withbrushandneedle.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast-12-week-21-butterfly-chain.html
– preethi
Butterfly chain stitch was new to me now I like this stitch. Here is my attempt: http://fabricfusion.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-21-butterfly-chain-stitch.html
Cheers Claudia
Here is my Week Butterfly chain stitch´s Work
http://stitchinfingers.ning.com/photo/springtime?context=latest
Hi Sharon, this is my exercise here :
http://homemadebyme.tumblr.com/post/23668713696/tast-2012-week-21-butterfly-chain-stitch
Thank you.
http://yarngoddess.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/hidden-butterflies/
My cloth is not inspiring me lately. I had a tough time finding the perfect spot for this stitch. Worked it in three different places but I may rip one out.
It was a new stitch for me, but I enjoyed it. http://focus-on-fiber.blogspot.com
I am still working on my gingerbread house. Check out my (very slow) progress:
http://stitchinginnc.blogspot.com/2012/05/butterfly-chain.html
Here’s my attempt… http://thatyankstitches.multiply.com/journal/item/318/Take_A_Stitch_Tuesday_2012_Challenge_-_Week_21
thank you sharon for inspiring me to play with stitches..here is my sheaf stitch in the form of flowers,grasses and butterflies..
http://leelashobbies.blogspot.in/2012/05/tast-2012-week-21-sheaf-stitch.html
Oh dear! Having just looked at your samples again I realize that I have not done this stitch correctly. However I am happy with the way it looks on my block so I won’t be picking it out to redo it. I hate redoing things anyway. I have let go of perfectionist tendencies and have learned that done is better than perfect! I will go ahead and try this stitch again and hopefully do a better job though. Thanks for looking
http://princessbubblescreates.blogspot.ca/
I wrote about the making of my TAST 2007 sampler for this stitch here:
http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-butterfly-chain-stitches.html
I also added a like to a video for this stitch, I found it in my old notes.
http://christinaroland.blogspot.com/2012/05/tast-week-21.html Loved this stitch, I imagine using it often 🙂
Hi Sharon,
I had done a few variations aof this stitch, when it was rerun on stitchinfingers, the details are here-
http://jizee6687.wordpress.com/category/tast-2012/21-butterfly-chains-stitch2/
thank you, Chitra
Everyone is stitching such lovely creative pieces recently and I am full of intention to explore, but cannot catch up !
Luckily I have most of the stitches from previous challenges and they are small enough samples to add to my new narrow band sampler – so it will grow one day when I feel well enough!
Here’s my previous Butterfly Chain,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23261611@N04/4615816401/in/set-72157623763221568
Connie, konnykards.
What a pretty stitch I am sure this will generate a lot of creativity.