Whipped Spoke Stitch is also known as whipped ring, raised spokes, ribbed spoke stitch, and ribbed stitch. Most often you see this stitch worked in a circle with the foundation stitches referred to as spokes but you can work this stitch on a line of straight foundations stitches or use it to fill a shape.
Whipped wheel stitch is a close relative as Whipped spoke Stitch involves laying down a series of spokes and whipping them. This produces a line or shape of ridged stitches. Use a blunt tapestry needle to avoid splitting the foundation stitches.
How to work Whipped Spoke Stitch
Lay down foundation stitches of straight stitch, in the shape you wish to work. In this sample I have used a line of straight stitches worked in perle#5 cotton
Bring your thread up at the start of the foundation stitches and slide the needle under one thread and thread it through. Move back to the start and slide the needle under two threads.
Pull the thread through and you have whipped the first spoke.
Note that the needle does not go through the fabric.
For the rest of the line slide the needle under two threads, pull it through and move back one thread and once again slide the needle under two threads.
Repeat this action, whipping each spoke as you progress across the shape. When you have finished the first row take your needle through the fabric and return to where you began and work a second until the rows fill the shape.
Whipped spokes can be used alone as an accent stitch of colour or texture, or can fill a shape to produce a textured filling.
The spokes can be arranged around a ring, in a line, in a fan shape or a free form shape.
In this sample I used it to work a small basket for a bunch of silk ribbon flowers. It is 6 straight stitches whipped with a hand dyed cotton #5 perle thread.
In this sample the shells are created by fanning out the foundations stitches into a fan shape.
In contemporary embroidery working Whipped spoke stitch around beads and found objects creates interest.
In this sample donut bead is secured to the fabric using 8 straight stitches which were then whipped. I added a french knot at the base of each straight stitch. The thread in cotton perle #5.
As you can see there are many possibilities for this stitch to create either small embroidered motifs in a more traditional embroidery or interesting areas of texture in contemporary embroidery. I hope you enjoy Whipped spoke stitch
Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?
As someone who loves crazy quilting and embroidery I designed these templates with other stitchers in mind. With my templates you can create hundreds of different patterns to apply to your stitching and crazy quilting projects. They are easy to use, totally clear so you can position them easily and they are compact in your sewing box.
Templates set 1 you will find here
Templates set 2 you will find here
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Is this a book where do I get one
Gillian it is a ‘real’ book so you can buy it through bookstores and online at places like booktopia, bookdepositry, Amazon etc
Thanks for this stitch. My samples are here.
http://hobbysewing.blogspot.com/2020/10/tast-37-beyond-tast-37.html
You created a gorgeous piece here!
Just. Found your site and I am impressed. As a beginner could you recommend which material I should you? I would want my samples to look good when completed not just use anything in my stash. Regards
Sandra –
Use what you have to hand as that will lead to experimenting and no pressure also surface embroidery is supposed to be used on just about anything traditionally it is used on household items like table cloths, place mats, tea towels, table runners doilies etc (all things people don’t use today but are hardwearing) also clothing of all sorts. Today we use surface embroidery on cushions, bags, clothing and even things like baby bibs etc My point is that all these things are on different fabrics and it is good to learn on different fabrics as stitches behave differently on different fabrics. It is part of the learning process. Also if you choose a fabric for your samples and standardise it some stitches will look good on it others wont. That said usually I choose linen. I have a large sampler band and I wrote an FAQ page where I discussed fabrics. You might find it useful here is the link https://pintangle.com/faq-pages/sampler-faq/
Sharon, your site continues to be one of my favorites. Though I’m primarily a bead embroiderer, I just love mixing it up with beautiful threads, and you *never* fail to inspire. Thank you <3
That is a beautiful and versatile stitch, I like your samples, thanks Sharon.
Thank You! for not just showing us the stitch but for also showing various ways to use it. Your creativity is awesome.
Wonderful ideas for this stitch. I had only ever used it to make the circle (rose) shape. Thanks for this posting.