Bonnet stitch

The Bonnet stitch is a variation of buttonhole that forms a line of stitches with upright twisted, looped prongs.

When you first look at the directions, some stitches look distinctly uninspiring. Bonnet stitch is such a case. It looks like a double buttonhole (I call it a herringbone with its knickers in a twist). However, I urge you to try it out. I think it will surprise you. You can use this stitch on even-weave or plain fabrics. It is quick and easy to work, and it can follow a curve well.

Bonnet stitch looks best in a thread with a firm twist. So if you are one of those folks using up old stranded embroidery threads to test your stitches, I can only encourage you to buy some perle thread. You are doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t try other threads. Many of the surface stitches look like nothing in stranded threads — but work them in a thread with a firm twist, and they come alive.

The sample below shows Bonnet stitch worked in different threads. The first row is cotton Perle 8, next comes rayon thread, followed by silk, and the last row is a metallic thread.

Since Bonnet stitch is a member of the buttonhole family, it can be worked easily on a curve. Worked in a freeform manner, you can produce organic textured lines.

Also, you can easily work this stitch in a circle.

How to work Bonnet Stitch

Work bonnet stitch from right to left between two imaginary lines. If you need to mark the line, use a pen that will dissolve when moist or one of the quilter’s pens that disappears after a few days.
Bring the needle out on the bottom line. Make a small stitch on the top line with the needle pointing left.
Pull the needle through the fabric.
Slide the needle under the straight stitch you just made. You are not taking the needle through the fabric, just slide it under the stitch with the needle pointing left. Pull the needle through.
On the bottom line, insert the needle where you started to stitch.  With the needle pointed left and the thread wrapped under the needle as illustrated, pull the needle through.

Take the needle to the top line and take a bite of the fabric as illustrated. This is the start of the next stitch.

Continue along the line.

Bonnet stitch can be worked in rows or at different heights. Think of all the patterns you make with Buttonhole stitch, as you can adapt many of these to Bonnet stitch too. It is a case of experimenting a little.  It is also interesting if you work Bonnet stitch at different angles or use it to couch heavy threads to the fabric.

You can create patterns if you work this stitch row upon row, or in this case, in rows back to back.