Embroidery
Embroidery Stitches & Tips
Embroidery stitches for beginners, step by step: back stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch, split stitch, satin stitch, lazy daisy, French knots and more, each practised in a small hoop.
French Knot Flowers Embroidery Pattern (Practice Hoop)
Beginner Embroidery Stitch Sampler (Free Pattern, 8 Stitches)
About this collection
Practice hoops, not exercises. Each pattern here practises one or two stitches in a design you would actually want to keep: a sampler, a hoop of French knot flowers, a branch of satin stitch leaves.
The problems everyone has. French knots falling through? Go down one fabric thread away from where you came up. Satin stitch lumpy? Outline the shape in split stitch first. Fabric puckering? Tighten the hoop and stop pulling.
Starting and ending neatly. Use a waste knot or a loop start instead of a big knot, and end by weaving under a few stitches on the back. Your work will lie flat and look tidy from both sides.
Ready for more? Put your new stitches to work in Floral Embroidery or Hand Embroidery Patterns.
Questions about stitch guides
What are the basic embroidery stitches?
Running stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, split stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch, lazy daisy and the French knot.
Why do my French knots fall through the fabric?
Do not come up and go down in the same hole: go down just one fabric thread away, and keep the wraps snug while you pull through.
How do I make satin stitch look smooth?
Outline the shape in split stitch first, stitch close parallel lines over it, and use fewer strands for small shapes.
What is the difference between stem stitch and back stitch?
Back stitch makes a flat, broken line; stem stitch makes a twisted, rope-like line that bends smoothly around curves.
