Hand embroidery Stitches

Learn about all the different embroidery stitches and styles with which to create beautiful hand embroidery designs.

Hand embroidery involves decorating fabric with colourful stitches made in an attractive pattern with needle and embroidery thread. With hand embroidered designs you have a way of adding a personal style to your accessories, clothes, home accessories and many other cloth products.

Cross-stitch, counted thread, embroidery, needlepoint, smocking, crewel, punch embroidery, appliqué and quilting- all your favourite fabric embellishments uses hand embroidery stitches. 

Hand Embroidery Stitches

Commonly used Hand embroidery stitches

Satin stitch

This stitch creates a smooth, shiny finish- the best for leaf and floral embroidery.

Running stitch

This is a basic embroidery stitch that every beginner should know.

Bullion Stitch

This unique coiled knot stitch creates a three-dimensional effect

Learn Bullion stitch

French Knots

This classic stitch adds a beautiful raised dot.

Ladder Stitch

This stitch creates a ladder-like appearance.

Chain Stitch

This stitch is used to create floral motifs, and letters.


LINE STITCHES

Stem stitch

Outline stitch

Chain stitch

Running stitch

Split stitch

Back stitch

Couching stitch

Related posts : Outline stitch ; Running stitch & 9 variations ; Back stitch & 2 variations; Cable chain stitch ; Chain stitch and its 21 variations


BACK STITCHES

Chevron Stitch

hand embroidery - chevron stitch

Pekinese stitch

Single or Double threaded back stitch

Turkey Stitch

embroidery stitches

Related posts : Chevron Stitch 


RUNNING STITCHES

Threaded running stitch

Related posts : Running stitch & 9 variations


 KNOT STITCHES

Coral stitch

Bullion stitch

French knot stitch

Sheaf stitch

Knotted blanket stitch

Related posts : Granitos stitchFrench knot stitch ; 6 important knot stitches in embroidery; Bullion Knot stitch


BLANKET STITCHES

Closed blanket stitch

Blanket stitch

Double blanket stitch

Filling blanket stitch

Knotted blanket stitch

Long and short blanket stitch

Pinwheel stitch


Related posts :Blanket stitch & 11 variations;  Eyelet stitch 
CROSS STITCHES
Basic cross stitch
hand embroidery stitches

Double cross stitch

Upright cross Stitch

Herringbone stitch

herringbone stitch

Fishbone Stitch

embroidery stitches-fishbone stitch

Vandyke Stitch

embroidery stitches - vandyke stitch

Star stitch

embroidery stitches

Ermine stitch

embroidery stitches -ermine stitch

Related posts : Herringbone stitch & its 2 variations ; Fishbone stitch

CHAIN STITCHES
Basic Chain stitch
hand embroidery stitches
Zig Zag Chain stitch
hand embroidery stitch

Lazy Daisy stitch

hand embroidery stitch

Twisted chain stitch

Threaded chain stitch

Feathered chain stitch

Rosette chain stitch

embroidery stitches

Heavy braided chain stitch

Square chain stitch

embroidery stitches

Cable chain stitch

Wheat ear stitch

embroidery stitches

Related posts :


FILLING STITCHES

Seed Stitch

embroidery stitches

Straight Stitch

hand embroidery stitches

Satin Stitch

embroidery stitches

Related posts

Holbein stitch/ kasuti embroidery stitch ; Satin stitch ; Long and short stitch

FEATHER STITCHES

Basic feather stitch
embroidery stitches
Cretan Stitch
embroidery stitches
Fly Stitch
embroidery stitches

Fern Stitch

hand embroidery fern stitch

Arrowhead stitch

embroidery stitches
Related posts : Fly stitch & 7 variations ; Feather stitch 
STEM STITCH – VARIATIONS

Encroaching stem stitch

Related posts : Stem Stitch & 3 variations

Other Embroidery Tutorials 

Hardanger embroidery

Four sided stitch

Drawn thread embroidery – 2 methods

Chicken scratch embroidery

Chikankari embroidery

12 basic bead embroidery stitches

How to stitch shell stitch – 2 ways

4 ways to do couching

6 best filling stitches

Black work embroidery

Bobbin work

Broderie Anglaise embroidery

Kutch embroidery tutorial

Insertion stitches

Kantha embroidery

Sashiko embroidery

Shadow embroidery

Needle painting

Pattern Darning

Pick stitch

Queen Stitch

Scallop stitch

Zardosi embroidery work
Phulkari embroidery

Pulled Thread embroidery work – 5 basic stitches used

5 easy Chikan motifs

Chain stitch embroidery – 5 common motifs.

8 ways to make lazy daisy flower embroidery designs

8 ways to attach mirror

6 ways to do cutwork embroidery

12 easy 3D embroidery flowers

12 ways to do Applique work

10 ribbon embroidery flowers – tutorial

10 paisley / mango print designs for embroidery

10 easy hand embroidery motifs for the lazy embroiderer

9 best ways to do embroidery transfers

9 easy to sew bead border designs

A guide to do smocking

Rose embroidery – 12 ways to make embroidered roses

Best fabrics for hand embroidery

12 different types of hand embroidery thread

12 types of metallic thread for embroidery

14 types of embroidery sewing needles

Best ways to turn a photo into an embroidery work

How to design embroidery – 10 great sources of inspiration

How to design letters for embroidery

How to make a cross stitch pattern – 4 easy ways

Indian hand embroidery patterns and motifs

Embroidery flower stitches

22 beautiful embroidery border designs

9 Bead embroidery border designs

4 ways to stitch a pansy flower.

Bead embroidery tassels and other bead edging

Embroidery placement- Where to embroider on clothes, accessories and linen

10 easy small embroidery designs for bedsheets and pillowcases.

small embroidery designs

The following basic embroidery stitches are the building blocks of all beautiful needle work creations.  You can combine them in various combinations to create the most creative and captivating hand embroidery designs.

You can rejuvenate your old clothes into a new creation with a little ingenuity and knowledge of some basic hand embroidery stitches.

A lackluster old purse can turn into a designer piece with some metallic embroidery on it.

An old T-shirt can be customized with your logo embroidered on it.

An ordinary jeans can be turned designer jeans with some cool designs done on it.

You can delight your child by customizing his accessories with his name embroidered on them.

The beauty of hand embroidery is that you just need some basic simple tools to turn a designer – the fabric of your choice, needle and embroidery floss are the basics you should have to start with in your arsenal.The needlework stitches outlined here can form the building blocks for your ultimate artwork.

Checkout this post on basics of hand embroidery ( 10 FAQ answered) if you are a beginner to embroidery 

embroidery-design-transfer

embroidery supplies tools

 

  

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Hi, I love sewing, fabric, fashion, embroidery, doing easy DIY projects and then writing about them. Hope you have fun learning from sewguide as much as I do. If you find any mistakes here, please point it out in the comments.

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