This Embroidery Stitch Picture Dictionary will help you to identify the stitches even if you don’t know the names! Dig through our embroidery stitch library of 300 stitches below—click over a picture and go directly to the stitch tutorial page.
When I started researching and documenting hand embroidery stitches way back in 2007, many stitches looked similar in their basic technique. To make identifying easier, I started categorizing them into different groups. I call each group a Stitch Family. This categorization should help you in easy reference, and for identifying and selecting the stitches. The Stitch Families are placed in alphabetical order. 🙂 Hover over the images for the alternate names in different popular languages.
We have a dedicated Hand Embroidery Book with the picture dictionary and step-by-step guides to each of these 306 stitches. Buy now and start stitching!
Back Stitch Family
Blanket Stitch Family
Raised Blanket Stitch | ||
Knotted Blanket | ||
Chain Stitch Family
Chevron Stitch Family
Couching Stitch Family
Honeycomb Filling | ||
Cretan Stitch Family
Plaited Insertion | ||
Cross Stitch Family
Fishbone Stitch Family
Feather Stitch Family
Fly Stitch Family
Crown Stitch | Reversed Fly | |
Whipped Reversed | Threaded Reversed | Anklet Stitch |
Herringbone Stitch Family
Laced Herringbone | ||
Indian H’bone | ||
Closed H’bone | Otomi | Shadow Stitch |
Maltese Cross | Double Maltese | |
Interlaced Maltese | Int’ced d’ble Maltese | |
Persian Star | Ermine | |
Vertical H’bone | Vandyke | H’bone Ladder |
Half Herringbone | Raised Herringbone | |
Knot Stitch Family
Palestrina Stitch Family
Mountmellick | Eastern Stitch |
Running Stitch Family
Satin Stitch Family
Surface Satin | Back Stitched Satin | |
Trailing Stitch | Double Satin |
Stem Stitch Family
Double Lock Stitch | ||
Straight Stitch Family
|
Weave Stitch Family
Stripped Woven Band | ||
Raised Needle Wea | Broad Woven Picot | |
Portuguese Border |
Knit Stitch Family
Learn all these stitches and plenty more from our 600-page eBook.
I was searching the Web for different embroidery stitches and I found your site. It’s has been the most helpful when I just can’t think of a good stitch combination for the crazy quilt I’m making. I have one more patch to complete and will continue trying the variety of stitches on your site. Thanks.
We are so happy that our pages are helping you! 🩷
I have to replicate this stitch on a quilt I am restoring. Having trouble figuring out what the heck it is…..
Hi Mary,
This is the Breton Stitch. My tutorial shows one-sided Breton, but you can work the technique on both sides to get that ‘twisted’ effect. Check the tutorial to know what I mean: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/herringbone-stitch/breton-stitch/
Hope this helps! ☺
Yes! I tried tracing it with thread and that’s the same conclusion I came to, but it’s good to have that verified!
perfect! 🙂
Can someone kindly identify these embroidery stitches and techniques used by my mother Esme in the early 1930s, on a silk runner edged with lace?
Hi Ian,
From what I can figure out, the stitches used are:
1. Satin stitch to fill the inside of the letter: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/satin-stitch/satin-stitch/
2. Back Stitch to outline the letter: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/back-stitch/back-stitch/
3. She used the Drawn Threadwork technique (hemstitch edging) to create the square frame with holes.
I hope this information helps.
Thank you so very much, Sarah!
Another detail for my family history and, in particular, for a needlework-interested and inquisitive Swedish granddaughter…
Wishing you well,
Ian G. Layton
Your shared knowledge really helped me in a constant way.
Thankyou for the guidance ma’am❣️
Hi Parita. Thank you for sharing this beautiful sampler with us. Such a nice pattern to practice the stitches! Lovely attempt. 😍
Thank you for the wonderful book. It gave me courage to try things that I would not have done before.
I would not have attempted this without your website and stitch guide.
Dear Cherice,
What a beautiful piece of work! I am so proud you referred to our eBook to guide you through this work. Love it! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. ❤️
Where did you get this pattern? This is awesome!
I’d like to use it if you have the pattern, if I may.
I’ve become more and more interested with embroidery and it’s all thanks to you and this priceless guide to everything you can imagine!
I live abroad and I’ve tried to reconnect with the embroidery of my country and your guide has become an indispensable help for me. Thank you so much.
Thak you so much, Magali, for dropping by. Your comment brought a big smile to our faces. We love it that our pages are helping you in your interest in this art.
Hi Mahalakshmi,
Thank you for sharing this sample with us. It is a beautiful attempt. 🙂
U r just awesome ,I am also a embroidery instructor. But I am impressed with u. Do sweet of u mam
Thank you,Bimla. ☺️ Your work is beautiful too.
Thanks a LOT 🙂
Please never delete this page, it’s so useful <3
Thank you, Noém. This page will be here forever! ❤️
This book is amazing and exciting.! If this is yours,I would definiitely love to buy one. I have no way to download this wonderful instruction book..thank you so much for sharing this incredible lesson in embroidery!
Sandra
Thank you, Sandra. ❤️
Ok. Lets try this … an example of stitching from the back for stitching on velvet.
Awesome. Thank you for sharing this, Susan.
Hi Sarah!
I’ve been using your stitch instructions and have become a lot more serious about embroidery. I wanted you to see a couple of pieces I did recently.
Warm regards,
Millie
Hi Millie,
I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying hand embroidery. ❤️
Of course, you can post your works here. We would love to see them. You can uoad the photo files in the comment section.
There must be a trick to remove the map transfer. It is impossible to tear off without damaging the embroidered constellation map. Especially the stars. Any suggestions?
I ordered and paid for this yesterday, but the remote server crashed and I have not been able to follow the download link as the page won’t reload. Can the book be emailed to me please??
Dear Mary-Jo,
Thank you for purchasing our eBook. I have emailed you with a resolution. Please look for the email in your inbox. In case you do not find it there, check your spam folders too.
Warm regards,
Sarah
As a longtime crafter but newbie embroiderer, this guide has been so helpful and will continue to be as I try and learn different stitches. I traced my daughter’s drawing to make a present for Father’s Day and used the guide to also turn it into a bit of a sampler with at least 13 different types of stitches.
You are just awesome… I learnt about embroidery. But I don’t know there are many many types of embroidery and this is very useful.. Hats off and thank you so much 🌹
Thank you, Abinaya! More pages to come. I hope you enjoy all of them!