Feather Stitch

Feather stitch is a wonderfully versatile, decorative, surface embroidery stitch. It is also known as single coral stitch, and briar stitch. Feather stitch is found extensively on traditional English smocks, Dorset embroidery and on crazy quilts. You can easily give a contemporary twist to the traditional uses of feather stitch, …

Fly Stitch

Fly stitch is a simple stitch that you can use for many things, such as in the sample above. In this piece of contemporary embroidery, I worked fly stitch in stranded cotton floss, perle #8 cotton, perle #12 cotton over layers of chiffon and net to produce a watery effect. …

Picot chain stitch tutorial

Picot Chain Stitch is an interesting variety of chain stitch that can be used as a linear stitch. Picot simply means knot or loop. This version has a picot on each chain stitch creating a slight ridge down the side of the line. In order to work this stitch it is …

From Studio Journal Design to Embroidered piece

This is article I move from studio journal design to embroidered piece. This is an example of taking a design in my studio journal and stitching it. I will start with sharing a photo of the finished project. The source of the design The idea for this project started because …

Raised Close Herringbone Stitch

Raised Close Herringbone The Raised Close Herringbone stitch is usually worked in the shape of leaves and incorporated in floral sprays. It is a self-padding stitch that adds texture and interest to a spray.  I recommend using a blunt tapestry needle when working Raised Close Herringbone Stitch. This avoids splitting …

Sword Stitch Tutorial

Sword stitch is a simple easy stitch to work which is classified as an isolated stitch. Its simplicity means your experiments can take you in different directions. Obviously you can work Sword stitch as an isolated stitch but arranging it in patterns or lines can take the stitch off in anther …

Lace Border Stitch

I found Lace Border Stitch while browsing through a copy  The Batsford Encyclopaedia of Embroidery Stitches by Anne Butler. It looked interesting so I thought I would try it out Lace Border Stitch looks trickier than it is. It forms a interesting lacy line which can be used on borders. …