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
In this article I will cover:
- Satin stitch
- Running stitch
- Bullion Stitch
- French Knots
- Ladder Stitch
- Chain Stitch
- LINE STITCHES
- Stem stitch
- Outline stitch
- Chain stitch
- Running stitch
- Split stitch
- Back stitch
- Couching stitch
- BACK STITCHES
- Chevron Stitch
- Pekinese stitch
- Single or Double threaded back stitch
- Turkey Stitch
- RUNNING STITCHES
- Threaded running stitch
- KNOT STITCHES
- Coral stitch
- Bullion stitch
- French knot stitch
- Sheaf stitch
- Knotted blanket stitch
- BLANKET STITCHES
- Closed blanket stitch
- Blanket stitch
- Double blanket stitch
- Filling blanket stitch
- Knotted blanket stitch
- Long and short blanket stitch
- Pinwheel stitch
- Double cross stitch
- Upright cross Stitch
- Herringbone stitch
- Fishbone Stitch
- Vandyke Stitch
- Lazy Daisy stitch
- Twisted chain stitch
- Threaded chain stitch
- Feathered chain stitch
- Rosette chain stitch
- Heavy braided chain stitch
- Square chain stitch
- Cable chain stitch
- Wheat ear stitch
- FILLING STITCHES
- Seed Stitch
- Straight Stitch
- FEATHER STITCHES
- Fern Stitch
- Arrowhead stitch
- Encroaching stem stitch
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
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

Pekinese stitch
Single or Double threaded back stitch
Turkey Stitch

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 stitch ; French 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
Double cross stitch
Upright cross Stitch
Herringbone stitch

Fishbone Stitch

Vandyke Stitch

Star stitch

Ermine stitch

Related posts : Herringbone stitch & its 2 variations ; Fishbone stitch
CHAIN STITCHES
Basic Chain stitch
Zig Zag Chain stitch
Lazy Daisy stitch
Twisted chain stitch
Threaded chain stitch
Feathered chain stitch
Rosette chain stitch

Heavy braided chain stitch
Square chain stitch

Cable chain stitch
Wheat ear stitch

Related posts :
FILLING STITCHES
Seed Stitch

Straight Stitch

Satin Stitch

Related posts :
Holbein stitch/ kasuti embroidery stitch ; Satin stitch ; Long and short stitch
FEATHER STITCHES
Basic feather stitch
Cretan Stitch
Fly Stitch
Fern Stitch

Arrowhead stitch
Related posts : Fly stitch & 7 variations ; Feather stitch
STEM STITCH – VARIATIONS
Encroaching stem stitch
Related posts : Stem Stitch & 3 variations
Other Embroidery Tutorials
Drawn thread embroidery – 2 methods
12 basic beading embroidery stitches
How to stitch shell stitch – 2 ways
Zardosi embroidery work
Phulkari embroidery
Pulled Thread embroidery work – 5 basic stitches used
Chain stitch embroidery – 5 common motifs.
8 ways to make lazy daisy flower embroidery designs
6 ways to do cutwork embroidery
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
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 make a cross stitch pattern – 4 easy ways
Indian hand embroidery patterns and motifs
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.

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


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