How many hand embroidery stitches do you know? Learning all the different hand embroidery stitches is not as difficult as you think. With patience and practice, you’ll get the hang of this special sewing skill in no time!
11 Different Types of Hand Embroidery Stitches
Embroidery is a handicraft that uses yarn and needle to create a beautiful design pattern. You can certainly create and have fun at the same time by simply creating your own embroidery pattern. But before you can make different hand embroidery designs, you need to learn the types of stitches for embroidery we’re about to share!
Learning all the embroidery stitches can be challenging and daunting. But let me tell you this: embroidery is super easy! Just think of it this way — it’s just coloring with thread! Keep reading as we share 11 types of hand embroidery stitches we can’t live without!
1. Running Stitch
The running stitch is mostly used to create an outline to an embroidery design. This kind of stitch used for sewing almost anything from clothing to embroidery. Check this embroidery stitches tutorial here.
2. Back Stitch
The back stitch is a thin-line stitch commonly used in outlining a design before filling with satin stitch. It is also used if you want to add fine detail to your work design. Check the tutorial here.
3. Split Stitch
The split stitch looks like a mini-chain stitch when done continuously. It’s great to use in outlining designs like floral stems. Learn how to do it here.
4. Stem Stitch
A stem stitch is beginner-friendly and known to be one of the easiest. Oftenly used in creating an outline of most embroidery stitches, it’s ideal to use for curved or straight lines. Check the tutorial here.
5. Satin Stitch
It is basically an easy stitch used in covering certain designs (like a leaf) which leaves a smooth, satin-like appearance. Some embroiderers create an outline of the design first using straight stitches to make sure the satin stitches naturally lies within its parameters. Check out the tutorial here.
Watch the video below about basic embroidery supplies by Michaels Stores.
6. French Knot Stitch
This stitch is usually used in creating fine details such as the eyes in a design pattern. Although not commonly used, you can use this to fill the center of flowers or round shape designs. See the tutorial here.
7. Chain Stitch
A stitch that forms a chain-like pattern after a series of looped stitches. This stitch is particularly used for straight or curved lines. Check the tutorial here.
8. Lazy Daisy Stitch
This type of stitch is frequently used for making floral and petal designs of most embroidery patterns. It is not made continuously. Rather, you have to make a loop and create a small stitch at the end of the loop, which later on creates a look of a daisy petal. Check the tutorial here.
9. Feather Stitch
The feather stitch is also known as a single coral stitch. You’ll love it once you’ve learned how to do it because of how attractive and easy to do this stitch is. You’ll love to see the tutorial here.
10. Seed Stitch
The seed stitch is also considered a running stitch. Some embroiderers also call this a rice grain stitch. It is basically done by making a running stitch in one single direction until it fills the whole design just like the image shown above. Check here for more details.
11. Herringbone Stitch
Herringbone is a versatile stitch used to hem garments and is also known as catch stitch or plaited stitch. If you’ll try to create this, you might want to draw parallel lines to make sure you’re getting even spaces in between. See the tutorial here.
Watch this video tutorial about creating Embroidery Stitches by Amanda Rolfe.
Give yourself a pat on the back for finally learning how to do these hand embroidery stitches. Practice them, and we’re definitely sure you’ll get far! You can create so many hand embroidery designs! If your first several attempts didn’t turn out right, don’t worry! Just keep practicing and sooner or later, you’ll master them all. Happy stitching!
Which of these embroidery stitches do you love doing the most? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Up Next: SEWING 101: Beginner’s Guide To Basic Sewing Stitches
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Editor’s Note: This video was originally published in March 2017 and updated for quality and relevancy.
Bonnie Rolle says
February 7, 2018 at 7:06 AMI would like to get the floss and free patterns what do I do.
Vrinda Kataria says
April 21, 2018 at 4:20 AMVery nicely taught .Would like more tutorials on other advanced stitches.
jacqui Korroch says
May 24, 2018 at 5:53 AMLovely hand embroidery tutorials… As a child my Gram gave me a piece of blue fabric and a few different colors of floss and a needle to do some freehand embroidery. Having no pattern, I made my own pattern. It turned out very primative in both pattern and stitches. That started me down the path to creating some fun and interesting items. I mostly do x-stitch now. The blue work was thrown out many years ago when Gram past and her handworked pieces were tossed out.
Carol Mason says
June 5, 2018 at 7:18 PMGood tutorial, but was surprised by the picture at the top. Hardanger embroidery. Definitely not a basic embroidery stitch.
mcb says
June 28, 2018 at 11:11 AMlove it
Dami says
August 23, 2018 at 8:50 PMStarted loving embroidery when I lived in India took my three yrs old daughter and my embroidery stuff to learn the teacher was so kind taught us over a hundred stitches in hand and machine stitches we had to do two sampler a meter square fabric enjoyed that year the most in my life ofcourse all forgotton now and samples lost too due to travelling but fond memory bout back by your tutorial so well done not available those days well done how lucky is this generation they have everything on a silver platter I had to travel miles in an overcrowded bus with two bags and a child how I envy this generation lucky them thanks to you and technology love love love it