Send a big thank-you to embellished jeans and cheeky throw pillows for making embroidery the latest crafty comeback. Want in? These 10 embroidery stitches for beginners will get you started, and are a great foundation for taking your hoop to the next level.
Good to Know: To see any of these stitches in action, check out our classes Startup Library: Hand Embroidery and Modern Hand Embroidery.
1. Running Stitch
Not to be confused with the running man, the running stitch offers a quick way to outline a design. There are two methods you can use.
The first is the sewing method: Simply weave the needle and floss through the fabric in one continuous motion to create several stitches at once, as if you were sewing a seam.
The second is the “punch and poke” or “stabbing” method: Push the needle through the fabric to the back, then poke it through to the front a short distance away, creating one stitch at a time.
2. Backstitch
The backstitch is great when you need a solid line, like when you’re creating outlines or hand embroidered letters.
Begin by pulling the needle and floss up through the fabric and do one stitch forward. From underneath, space the needle out the length of your desired stitch, pull up through the fabric, and bring the needle and floss back down through the end of the previous stitch.
3. Split Stitch
Similar to the backstitch, the split stitch creates a solid line, but its braided texture is all its own. This stitch is another good option for text and outlines, but also works well for filling in designs.
To begin, pull your needle and floss up through the fabric and create one straight stitch. With your needle and floss on the underside of your hoop, bring the needle up through the center of the stitch you just created. Stitch forward the same length as your initial stitch. Repeat by bringing the needle up through the center of each stitch.
4. Stem Stitch
This stitch got its name — you guessed it — from being used to create flower stems and vines. But really, it’s a nice option for anything that needs to curve.
Similar to the split stitch, start by creating one straight stitch forward. Then, bring the needle and floss up underneath the fabric, but instead of going through the center of your initial stitch, go just to the side of the stitch.
5. Satin Stitch
When you’re creating hearts or filling in leaves, it’s likely you want the design to have a smooth appearance. That’s where this stitch comes in. It adds a nice raised texture, and gets the job done super fast.
First, draw out the shape you want to fill to use as a guide. With your needle and floss, create one stitch that extends from one end of the shape to the other.
Bring the needle up again just next to the opposite side of the initial stitch. Keep the stitches close to one another, as required to fill the pattern or design you are working with.
6. French Knots
This decorative stitch makes a pretty accent design throughout your project, and you’ll even need two hands to pull it off. But don’t worry, it’s not tough! First, bring the needle and floss up through the fabric. Then wrap the floss around the needle twice. Hold the end of the floss taut and bring the needle down just next to the space where it came through the fabric.
Keep holding the floss taut as you pull the needle through. You can vary the size of your French knots by wrapping the floss around the needle anywhere between one and three times.
7. Chain Stitch
This stitch may look complicated, but with some practice, we pinky promise you’ll get it. It’s another one that’s great for an outline, or the frame around a patterned design.
First, pull your needle and floss up through the fabric, then insert it going down right beside where you first came up. Don’t pull the floss all the way through the fabric; allow it to form a loop. Bring the needle up through that loop (this tethers it from being pulled all the way through the fabric) and pull.
To make the next chain stitch, place the needle either directly in the hole you just stitched, or close to it, and pull through to create another loop. Again, don’t pull the floss completely through the fabric. Pull the needle up through the loop to tether it and pull.
Repeat the steps to continue the chain. When you reach the end, create a small stitch over the loop to secure it.
8. Lazy Daisy
This variation of the chain stitch is often referred to as the “detached chain stitch” or “lazy daisy.” Why? Instead of continuing the chain, you make a small stitch just over the end of the loop to create what looks like a daisy petal.
Just like the chain stitch, take your needle and floss and create a stitch, but before you pull the floss all the way through the fabric, allow it to form a loop. Bring the needle up through that loop in order to tether it from being pulled all the way through the fabric.
Create a small stitch over the top of the loop. Space out the next loop or use the stitch to create a daisy. Continue as desired.
9. Feather Stitch
Another way to riff off the chain stitch is the feather stitch, which uses the second stitch to anchor the loop of the previous one. This particular chain variation works well when you want to cover more space.
Start by bringing the needle and floss up through the fabric and creating a straight stitch. Don’t pull the floss all the way through; allow a loop to form and bring the needle up through that loop.
Space the next stitch over in the opposite direction from the previous stitch. Create another loop by not allowing the floss to go completely through the fabric. Pull the needle up through the loop and repeat on the opposite side.
10. Seed Stitch
Imagine tossing the contents of a seed packet into the air and watching the seeds fall randomly on the ground. That’s what the seed stitch looks like, and it’s a great filler stitch.
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To do it, bring the needle and floss up through the fabric and create a short, straight stitch. Bring the needle and floss up through the fabric again in a different angle. Continue until you have a filled area. Depending how close or far you space out your seed stitches, you can create a wide fill or layers of floss that appear to have dimension.
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, you’re pretty much ready for anything — including amazing fashion pieces.
One of the best Embroidery work we will love to see more
Thank you, very clear x
I NEED A VIDEO
Very nice instruction about embroidery.
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Thank You
Thank you!
thanks
thank you
Thank you for reminding me how to do those stitches It has been a few (4) years since I have embroider
Love this!
go to your room
I’m interested in it,
Thanks
want to learn these stitches
Some of these are familiar to me but I would like further instruction on the others…
I would love to learn these stiches
Thank you, unfortunately been ill, but hope to try them soon.
Haven’t taken advantage of your offers yet, but hopefully will soon. To much family sickness right now.
Thanks
Thank you for this refresher course! I haven’t
embroidered in a while. I’m looking forward to picking it up again!!!
I would love to learn how to embroider. Do you have some instructions to sell?
Nice way for remembering
Thank you for the reminder of certain embroidery stitches i’m getting ready to teach my nine year old granddaughter!
Love these instructions. Thank You.
That was a great beginning! I’d like to learn more.
Love to embroidery.my mother did beautiful doilies,pillow cases etc.I am no as good as she was,but I am doing ok.
Interested
Its been a while.
My Grandmother taught me how to embroider when I was a child, but I have forgotten so very much. This is great.
Love Embroidery Would like to learn more stitches
I haven’t embroidered in years but thanks to your information on beginner stitches I think I’ll give it another try.
Cool
I do a lot of hand sewing, mostly counted cross stitching, and I am always looking to learn more because I work on Christmas stockings that require embroidery stitching.
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Love to learn embroidery.
thank you for your information on embroidery stitches. i am a beginner, and 80 yrs young
Excited
i am looking forward to learning to embroider
Love to stitch and sew.
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Thank you! I want to make gifts for me family by hand, not machine. I am a 71 year old grandma..
I’m a 76-year-old great-grandmother who has been making afghans for my family members. I either knit or crochet them. I ask what their favorite colors are and plan accordingly. It is a gift they can cuddle with and will remember me by. Good luck finding your favorite “family” gift!
I have done most of these stitches over the years. A few that I haven’t tried. Now I can follow these.
Thank you for not having just a video. I and other visual learners need to be able to follow precisely and a video is just too darn fast. When you do use videos again, it would be nice to have the transcript available also.
I am actually representing Arkansas in making one of 50+ quilt tops to be quilted together and out on display and it requires quite q bit of embroidery. I have never done embroidery so this is a tremendous help for me Thank you for a timely article
Years ago beginner and never got past it. Now much older a senior want to try again.
It would be helpful if this instruction will be in a video form.
beginner
Love this
This has stimulated my mind, I might start doing embroidery again!
I feel the same way Judith! A head injury has left me w/ gaps in my brain power and short-term memory loss. My r reflexes are almost gone yet I will try. How exciting! Thanks for waking me up!
instructions easy to follow plain english
Great by all means and a very informative blog on digital embroidery. keep sharing worthy info like this!
freebie embroidery
Wonderful can’t wait to try some of the stitches
Finally a place where I can learn more embroidery stitches.
Thanks a lot, I love to learn more of embroidery
Very nice and good stitches. Can we have some advanced detailed Crochet stitches as well please. Thks
Thank you!
Very informative. Tried each one and….all were as you instructed. Thank you. Much appreciated.
Thank you
My problem joining is not not wanting it; I got a prepaid Visa card Christmas and you don’t accept it.
Will you accept it I will be glad to join.
Hi Mary Kathryn. I am happy to hear you are interested in becoming a member to our Craftsy online community. I am sorry we do not accept prepaid cards. Currently we accept debit and credit cards. We are also working on adding PayPal as a payment option by early 2022.
If you have any other questions, please email or call Customer Service.
Sarah
Craftsy
I love embroidery
Maybe a class on using these embroidery stitches on your knit or crochet piece.
Thank you. I will use them.
Great instructions
My favorite stitch is the random seed stitch, fun!
Great instructions, easy to understand. Thank you.
I believe hand made is better
Can anyone tell me what fabric to buy that’s best these kind of projects?? Thank you.
Two most used fabrics are Kona cotton and cotton linen. You can find these on Etsy. Buy a fat quarter (22″x18″) of each and try them.
Thank you – great for beginners
Thanks for sharing. Please check my reviews about best embroidery machine with FAQs.
This is great for beginners Very clear indeed.
A video would be nice, but good instrections.
I love this group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdx_rMgISg0 Here’s a beginner video on all the top stitches…close up and easy to follow.
Thank you so much Joan for posting the link to the YouTube. Great video!!
Good
I think this would be easier if it came with a video 🙂 But thanks for the brief intro on the basic hand stitching stitches.
I downloaded an app on Android called “Learn Embroider” (no Y at end). It has video tutorials on all the stitches, along with other how-to’s, tips and tricks.
I learned 15 yrs ago . french knit
I am a begginer and a g7 student and I really like to learn more about stiching
I like your stich I am a computer embroidery designer but we can’t make like your stich great art
A lot of people are asking if they could have a printable copy. I recommend using PrintFriendly.com. I saved the website to my tablet, and when I have a free pattern or article to save, I copy the website, put into the place on the Print Friendly page and then ask for a preview. It will show up and you have the choice of Frap08frap@gmail.com, PDF file, or printing. It is what the lookatwhatimade.com author, Dedri uses on her page.
Crochet dog sweater is what I am looking for
Western Union
It is nice to remember hand embroidery. Thank you.
Would love a copy of the ten stitches!
Would love have a copy of the
10 stitches
I appreciate the diagrams, it will help to teach my granddaughters to embroidery.
Can I have a printable copy of stiches
Loved it! Very helpful for the one who is starting the embroidery.
Thank you for the memories. I can see and her Grandma Dickie, on theliving roon sofa, hoop in hand, patiently showing and talking me through all thise stitches.
Is there a video of this? I’d have a better understanding if I could actually see how it’s done.
I’m lefthanded and I would be better able to follow the directions and the correct way of holding the needle if I had a video of how it is done.
If I could get a printable copy of 10 embroidery stitches everyone should know that would be wonderful!
Love a copy. Can I get a printed copy
Hi Carolyn,
You can print directly off of our website. If you right click with your mouse on your browser you can get the option to print.
If you have any other questions, please email or call Customer Service.
Thanks,
Sarah
I would like a hard copy sent to me.
Can I get a printable copy?
Would love an email copy of the top embroidery stitches every beginner should learn! Thank you
Thanks for a copy of these great basic stitches!
Many thanks
would love a copy
I would love a copy of the top 10 embroidery stitches. Thank you
Will you please e-mail a copy of all of the above. Thank you,
Very informative and great instructions. I haven’t done embroidery in years, and would be interested in starting again. Would be great to have a printable copy, how can I obtain? Thank you.
How do I sign up for this beginning class
Hello Diane,
You can sign up for a membership which would give you access to over 1,500 classes, otherwise all classes are available to own for purchase. There is a Get Access/Purchase To Own button on every class.
If you have any other questions, please email or call Customer Service.
Thanks,
Sarah
My problem joining is not not wanting it; I got a prepaid Visa card Christmas and you don’t accept it.
Will you accept it I will be glad to join.
This is a good refresher on embroidery which I have not done in years. Thanks. Please send it to my email so I can print it off.
Will you please send this to my e-mail so I can print it off. Thank you.
Will you send me a copy of these stitches. Thank you
I love to Embroider
will you send this to my e mail so I can print it off Thanks
This is great! Just learning and this is very helpful
Would you please send this to my email so I can print it. Thank you
Hello Pat,
You can print directly off of our website. If you right click with your mouse on your browser you can get the option to print.
If you have any other questions, please email or call Customer Service.
Thanks,
Sarah
I like the satin stitch. It’s a wonderful way to fix a small hole in an item. Without it being noticed.
Please send me these instructions
I love embroidery!!
Interested
Great review, I don’t always know the name the stitch, now I do.
I don’t have any website
I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PATTERNS AND LESSONS THAT WE ENJOY A LOT AND ALLOW US TO WORK AT HOME IN FULL JOY.
CATHERINE COLAS AND JOEL LAJOYE
I have no website!
Interested in basic stitches
Need tp learn basic stitches.
Thanks for such an amazing blog and very help full for the embroidery designs I saw cartoon embroidery designs in different styles your Embroidery style is a unique way, and the same pattern use in Digit IT please visit this site hope you gain great knowledge of Embroidery Digitizing relates.
Ilove to do embroidery, when I was a young girl,I forget the stitches them .I would like to teach the girls I work with now how to do these stiches.can someone send me how to do them please.thank u in advance.
Love it
very informative
It’s years since I did any embroidery. Thank you for reminding me. The Split stitch, the feather stitch and the Seed stitch are new to me. I’ll definitely try them out.
Good starting set of stitches!
interested in learning new stitches
Used to do a lot of embroidery your page has encouraged me to take it up again. Thank you.
I agree that a printable copy showing construction of each stitch would be helpful. The blue lines on the fabric of the feather stitch are very helpful, too. The colorful photo at the top of the page showing how one might combine the basic stitches is wonderful. My mother taught me embroidery when I was a child. It fascinated me. I’m planning to take it up again soon. I’ve seen lovely examples of embroidery, both “ancient” and modern, on Instagram & have collected pictures that inspire. For me, needlework is an expression of one’s artistic talents mixing colors, fabrics and motifs as well as a meditative, relaxing artform.
I prefer the Colonial knot to the French knot. It is easier and doesn’t come out if the item is washed or used.https://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/colonial-knot.html#:~:text=Looking%20at%20the%20completed%20stitches,when%20washing%20the%20finished%20project.
Thank you! Good information.
Better visuals would have helped showing steps rather than the final result. Agree to the comment that a “hard, printable”copy would have been very helpful.
I agree – better visuals would’ve helped here, especially if you were new to embroidery. Video clips would’ve made a huge difference.
It would be nice to have a hard copy to keep by my embroidery.
Very informative.thank you
It was useful .Learned these stitches years ago and have forgotten. Also can be used in crochet patterns.
I am interested in picking up up crochet again, which I did as a youngster. Do you happen to know a good resource for basic crochet stitches? Thank you!
Very useful stitches to learn, thanks
That was great! Useful reminder, I might actually spend some time on this. Seems meditative.
Thanks. Looking forward to more
Let’s have an embroidery party (instead of a knitting group). Sounds fun to me!
thank you
I have forgotten how to do these
I have struggled with consistency with these stitches. Good reference!
Brings back fond memories. Got to get back to embroidery work again. So easy to take with when on a road trip or sitting waiting for tedt results!
So glad to have this reminder.
Glad to see someone cares
I have a few embroidery classes with Craftsy
Such a great presentation!
I would like to learn and enjoy all the needle point stiches
Every time I try stem stitch I remember why I love counted work!
The tutorial was good.
Thank you for this tutorial, I can’t wait to try this myself !
Great reread. I am old and learned all as a child. I have The Lord’s Prayer framed in cross starch, I did at 11 and numerous t-towels, shirts, and a quilt top. With the purchase of an embroidery machine I haven’t hand embroidered in a long time. I really enjoyed this hand work.
Love these stitches . Haven’t done in years . Will start again .
Maybe a class for a stitch sampler of unusual stitch’s. Or a sampler book.
moce stitch
Nice to see the stitches. What I need is a instructor showing how to do it. I ended up on u tube to learn them.
kygk
nice to read; however I would like a video I can follow to make the stitches
Video of different stitches would be appreciated please. Thank you
Interested
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