Hand embroidery

HAND EMBROIDERY
by
Bernard E. Richardson
Master Teacher|Art Educator|2022

EMBROIDERY
EMBROIDERY is the craft of decorating fabric with intricate
designs using a needle and threads or yarn.
• The word embroidery comes from the French word broderie
which means embellishment.
• Different stitches/techniques are used to create different effects.
They are used for:
designs all on fabric.
a. Outlining
b. Filling in
c. Decorating

HAND EMBROIDERY
HAND EMBROIDERY is the art or craft of embellishing fabric
with decorative stitches by hand using a needle and thread.
Hand embroidery can be used decoratively as well as practically:
• To add a decorative element to quilts and
garments
• To enhance and embellish applique with
details – buttons, sequins, ribbons etc.
• To cover seams and small tears in quilts and
garments.

Embroidery stitches/techniques
The basic embroidery stitches are:
• Running stitch
• Back stitch
• Stem stitch
• Split stitch
• Chain stitch
• Blanket stitch
• Cross stitch
• Satin stitch
• Seeding stitch
• French knot stitch
• Couching stitch

Equipment needed
Embroidery thread
• Also called fleece.
• Comes in different colours.
• Each thread/floss has six strands.
Embroidery needle
• Comes in varying sizes.
Embroidery hoop
• Used to hold the fabric taut (stiff) while stitching
• Comes in different sizes.
• Made from plastic or wood.
• Can also be used for framing finished embroidery
pieces.

Equipment needed (cont’d)
Fabrics
• Most suitable ones are linen, cotton,
muslin, satin, silk, canvas and denim.
Scissors
• Small and sharp, perfect for trimming embroidery
thread cleanly and closely.
• Used for protecting the finger tips
during sewing.
Thimble

Embroidery Stitch…
1. RUNNING STITCH
• The most basic of all embroidery stitches
• Used as an outline stitch, also for basting and as a decorative stitch.
Work this stitch from the right to the left if you are right handed
and left to right if you are left handed.
• Bring the needle up at point 1 Insert at
point 2 and come up at point 3.
• The distance between 1 – 2 and 2 – 3
should be equal.
• Repeat the sequence to continue the
next stitch.

2. BACK STITCH
• Used as an Outline stitch
• Forms the baseline for other decorative stitches.
Work this stitch from the right to the left.
• Bring the needle up at point 1 Insert at
point 2 and come up at point 3.
• The distance between 3 – 1 and 1 – 2
should be equal.
• Repeat the sequence for the next stitch
with the needle entering at point 2.

3. STEM STITCH
• This is an Outline stitch.
Work this stitch from the left to the right.
• Bring the needle up at point 1.
• Insert at point 2 and come up a half
stitch length at point 3.
• The distance 1 -3 and 3 – 2 should be
equal.

Embroidery stitch…
4. SPLIT STITCH
• This is an Outline stitch.
• It is worked like the stem stitch except when the needle
emerges, it splits the laid thread.
• Bring the needle up at point 1 and down
at point 2.
• Bring the needle back up at point 3,
splitting the center of the laid thread.
• Repeat the sequence. (Note that point 3
of the previous stitch is now point 1).
Come up half a stitch length at 3. The
distance 1 – 3 and 3 – 2 should be equal.

5. CHAIN STITCH
• One of the most popular Outlining stitches used in Embroidery.
• If the rows are worked closely together it could be used for
filling in an area.
• Bring the needle up at point 1.
• Insert back into the same hole at point 1 and bring up
at point 2, carrying the thread (in a loop) under the
needle point, then pull through.
• Repeat sequence and work all stitches the same way.
• To end the row, make a small stitch over the last
chain loop to hold it down.

6. BLANKET STITCH
• Also called the buttonhole stitch.
• This stich is a popular finishing stitch for edges.
• When worked small, it can be used for outlining as well.
• Bring the needle up at point 1 on the
bottom line.
• Insert at point 2 on the top line and
slightly to the right, and then come up at
point 3, directly below.
• Before pulling the needle through, carry
the thread under the point of the needle
as shown. Proceed to the next stitch.

7. CROSS STITCH
• This stitch is another popular stitch used for decorating but can be
used for filling in an area.
First from left to right laying down half
of the crosses, then back from right to
left to complete them.
• Bring the needle up at point 1. Insert
at point 2 and come up at point 3
directly below point 2.
• At the end of the row, work back,
entering at point 10 and coming up at
point 11.

8. SATIN STITCH
• This is a solid filling in stitch that covers the design
area with long straight stitches placed close together.
• Bring up the needle at point 1
• Insert at point 2 directly above; come up at
point 3 close to point 1.
• Continue this sequence until the area is
filled.
• Care must be taken to keep the stitches
smooth and at an even tension to avoid
puckering.

9. SEEDING STITCH
• This stich is the simplest filling stitch.
• It can be used in clusters or scattered.
• Bring up the needle at point 1 and take a
tiny stitch down at point 2.
• Bring up the needle at point 3 and take
another small stitch at point 4 close to the
first stitch (1 -2)
• Scatter seeding stitches as desired,
changing the direction of the stitches for a
varied effect.

10. FRENCH KNOT STITCH
• This stitch is used like the seeding stitch (scattered or in
clusters to fill in an area producing a textured effect).
• It is raised and is more textured because of the knots
made.
• Bring up needle at point 1.
• Holding the thread taut (stiff) with the left
hand, wrap the thread around the needle twice
(as shown).
• Gently pull the thread so the twists are
tightened against the needle.
• Carefully insert the needle near point 1 and pull
through.

11. COUCHING STITCH
• Couching is an embroidery technique that makes use of two threads at a time: the
top thread or surface thread and a stitching thread which holds the surface thread in
place.
To work this stitch:
• Bring up the needle with the main thread at point 1. Insert at
the end of the line, point 2.
• If the line you are working is curved, keep the thread loose
enough that you can move the thread along the line. You can
adjust it as you work.
• Tack down the surface thread with the stitching thread: bring
up the needle on one side of the surface thread ( point 3) and
down on the other side (point 4)
• Repeat the tacking with the stitching thread to secure the
surface thread.
• The surface thread can be thicker or textured because it does not enter the fabric but
rests on the surface. Fabric strips, Yarn, cord can be used. Both threads could be of
the same colour or contrasting colours.

Glossary of Terms
• TAUT: Stretched or pulled tightly, not slack.
• SURFACE THREAD: The laid thread which lies on top of the fabric
rather than going through the fabric.
• STITCHING THREAD: The thread used to hold the surface thread in
place. It is drawn through the fabric using the
needle.
• EMBROIDERY SAMPLER: A piece of fabric with a collection of a
variety of embroidery stitches or
techniques sewn on it.

RESOURCES
• Johanson, Mollie (2020). Working the couching stitch.[Online] Available:
https://www.thesprucecra fts.com/working-the-couching-stitch-3862766 (January 30, 2022).
• Richardson, Bernard E. (2020). Embroidery. Unpublished handout.
• Treasurie. (2022). Hand Embroidery Stitches most important Stitches. [Online]Available:
https://blog.treasurie.com/basic-hand-embroidery-stitches/ (January 27, 2022).
• The Quilt Show. (2021).What is hand embroidery. [Online]:Available:
https://thequiltshow.com/quiltipedia/what-is-hand-
embroidery#:~:text=Hand%20Embroidery%20is%20the%20art,to%20quilts%2C%20garments%2
0and%20accessories (January 27, 2022)
IMAGE COURTESY
• https://swoodsonsays.com/32-hand-embroidery-sampler-patterns/
• https://www.apqs.com/how-to-quilt-embroidery-on-quilts/

Hand embroidery

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