Triple Chain Stitch

I found this stitch ages ago, and it’s heaps of fun. Triple Chain is easy, quick, and simple to work, as it is a chain stitch with two side stitches.

It can be very effective, particularly if you vary the height or angle of the chain stitches down the side. You can easily add beads or lace novelty threads through the loops. You can use a variety of threads from fine cotton perle to silk ribbon.

How to work Triple Chain stitch

Start with a chain stitch.

Bring the thread to the front of the fabric and insert the needle close to where the thread emerges.

Take the needle through the fabric, bringing the point of the needle out a short space along the line to be stitched. With the thread wrapped under the needle’s point, pull the needle through the fabric to form a loop.

Take your needle to the back of the fabric, forming a small straight stitch over the loop to hold the chain down.

This creates the first chain.

Rotate your work clockwise to work a second chain stitch placed at right angles to the first stitch.

Make sure the chain stitch tie is pointed towards the middle of the line.

Rotate your work again to work another chain stitch on the other side of the central line.

The tie stitch should point to the middle.

Insert your needle into the middle of the first chain stitch, just above the first tie and make a chain stitch.

Make another chain stitch.

Once again, turn your work to make each of the two wings. Repeat the process along the line.

I hope you enjoy this stitch!

Thread Twisties!

Experimenting with different threads can be expensive. You would normally have to buy a whole skein of each type of thread. My thread twisties are a combination of different threads to use in creative hand embroidery. These enable you to try out stitching with something other than stranded cotton. For the price of just a few skeins, you can experiment with a bundle of threads of luscious colours and many different textures.

These are creative embroiderers’ threads. With them, I hope to encourage you to experiment. Each Twistie is a thread bundle containing silk, cotton, rayon, and wool. Threads range from extra fine (the same thickness as 1 strand of embroidery floss) to chunky couchable textured yarns. All threads have a soft and manageable drape. Twisting them around a needle makes experimental hand embroidery an interesting journey rather than a battle.  Many are hand-dyed by me. All are threads I use. You may find a similar thread twist, but no two are identical.

You will find my thread twisties in the Pintangle shop here.