Alternating Barred Chain Stitch

Alternating Barred Chain Stitch

Hand embroidery stitches / Stitch Dictionary
Alternating Barred chain stitch sample 4

Alternating Barred Chain stitch is one of the more interesting textured stitches to add to your hand embroidery repertoire of stitches. It is a member of the chain stitch family that produces a textured line.  I think that Alternating Barred Chain stitch is in some ways more interesting than its sister, Barred chain. This is because I like the pattern and the swing set up by the alternating arms of this stitch. This swing can create a sense of movement in a piece.

You can work Alternating Barred Chain stitch easily and quickly, and it looks great in chunky textured novelty threads. This stitch follows a curve well and is great for creating designs with an organic feel. You can use it to represent a thorny vine or in underwater scenes, representing seaweed and marine plants.

 

ABC sample 3

How to work Alternating Barred Chain Stitch

Work from top to bottom. Start with a basic chain stitch.

step by step ABC stitch 1

Insert the needle to the left of the chain with the tip emerging a short space down the line.

step by step ABC stitch1

The gap can vary, depending upon how wide you want the ‘spike’ of the chain. The wider the gap, the larger the spike.

step by step ABC stitch 2

Wrap the thread under the needle’s point, towards the right as illustrated, and pull the needle through the fabric. The thread will cross as you do this, producing a crossed stitch as illustrated.

step by step ABC stitch 3

The second stitch is a basic chain stitch.

step by step ABC stitch 4

Insert the needle to the right of the chain with the tip emerging a short space down the line. Wrap the thread under the needle’s point, towards the left, as illustrated, and pull the needle through the fabric.

step by step ABC stitch 5

Repeat this pattern of single-chain and barred chain angled left, followed by a single chain, then a barred chain angled right.

Alternating Barred chain stitch sample 1

Alternating Barred chain produces interesting hard-wearing bands if you work it row upon row.

Alternating Barred chain stitch sample 2

Or you can set up a pattern by working two rows back to back and arranging the spines in a regular manner.

Alternating Barred chain stitch sample 5

You can change the number of stitches you work on each side, too. Of course this creates another variety. Alternating Barred chain is also an ideal stitch to use in crazy quilting!

Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?

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!

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