Embroidery Basics
Embroidery is a wonderfully expressive craft that employs a variety of different techniques. Here are a few of the basics. If you are interested in learning more about embroidery, explore our collection of embroidery books and patterns.
Backstitch
Bring the needle and thread from the back to the front of the fabric. Put the needle down through the fabric about 1/8-inch away from where you started (For right-handers, it may feel more natural to move to the left; left-handers may prefer the right).
Bring the needle up approximately 1/8-inch away from where you went down. Pull the thread through. Put the needle back down in the same spot you did before, taking a backstitch.
Chain Stitch
Bring the needle up from the back of the fabric and pull the thread through. Put the needle back through the fabric a scant 1/16-inch from where you began, but do not pull the thread all the way through. Leave a short, loose loop. Bring the needle back up about 1/4-inch away, and pull the thread up through the loop. Put the needle back through the fabric, catching the loop and leaving a new loop through which to pull the needle on your next stitch.
Satin Stitch
Begin as you would for a running stitch, by making a single stitch. Bring your needle back up through the fabric directly next to where you began the first stitch. Make a parallel stitch to the first as close to the first stitch as possible. Repeat to create a solid field.
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thanks!
i needed the embroidery help 🙂
-kimberlee
This is awesome! Thanks for the detailed shots.
Thanks for showing elementary embroidery.
So pretty, your photos are the best!
What's your advice on curves? As in filling in a monogram.
Hi Stacy Z-
Satin stitch is usually the choice for filling things in, curves or not. This is an excellent (an inexpensive!) embroidery book that explains each stitch more in depth:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/5321-TNNA-How-to-Embroider
Thank you!
Molly
I want to add an short inscription to the top of a completed quilt. How do I secure the thread since I can’t put a knot on the back side without it showing on the other side of the quilt??
HELP!! It’s for a wedding gift ? thnx.
Hi Gael,
What you need to do is simply start as if you are doing a straight stitch pull your yarn through so that the tail on the back is pretty short about an inch long flip your project back over so that the right side is facing you. You are then going to do a back stitch pull the thread through but not all the way. Flip your work over to the wrong side, put the tail out of the way then pull the thread until you have a small loop, take the tail and pull it through the loop so that when you close the loop it creates an anchor on the tail. Continue doing this until the tail is partially covered.
I hope this helps,
Melissa