Also known as: bullion stitch, caterpillar stitch, coil stitch, knot stitch, post stitch, worm stitch, porto rico rose, grub knot
This is an interesting stitch used to make simple motifs. I would say that this is an ‘elongated’ knot which can be used liberally to group together and make dense textures. This stitch gives an embossed look, contibuting to the brazilian embroidery that uses stitches of 3D nature. 
Note to use a Milliners needle for this stitch. A milliners needle has the same thickness throughout its length, thus making the passing of the wound thread through the needle easy. You will be saving a lot of frustration by using this needle. 
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| Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A and put the needle through B at a desired length. | Fig 2: Now, bring the needle out through A again. Then, wind the thread around the needle as shown. The distance of wound thread should measure the same as the distance between A and B. Too many or too less wraps will spoil the stitch. |
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| Fig 3: Then, hold the wrapped thread with your fingers and pull the needle out with the other finger. Keep pulling the needle completely in an upward direction till the wraps lay on the fabric as shown above. Adjust and straighten the wraps if required and put in the needle back through B. | Fig 4: The finished bullion stitch would look like this. |
Tags: embroidery tutorial, grub knot, hand embroidery, knot family, knot stitch, knots, milliner's needle, porto rico rose, post stitch, worm stitch
The direction of wrap depends on the thread being used.For cotton threads, anticlockwise and for rayon threads clockwise.
Thanks for mentioning this Deepa. You are right, this tutorial illustrates the cotton thread wrap. Rayon threads wrap in the clockwise direction, that we use in Brazilian embrodery.
I am so interested in doing brazilian embroidery , which thread is used for brazilian embroidery ? . I have tried it with pearl cotton. Please tell me from where i get thread for brazilian embroidery (in India ,kerala).
Dear Nesee,
Brazilian embroidery uses rayon thread. It is different from perle cotton in the way it is twisted to be made. So, due to this, brazilian embroidery follows some norms like winding the thread in the clockwise direction.
I am not sure where we can find rayon threads in kerala yet. It must be available in any big and exclusive embroidery shops(?)
[...] Sara’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials Bullion stitch tutorial [...]
Madam Sarah,
I learnt a new thing today about the bullion stitch. i.e.’The distance of wound thread should measure the same as the distance between A and B.’ Always I could not stitch a neat bullion. But now I can. Thanks a lot madam.
Archana
wow! Am happy Archana. Call me only Sarah…I am more comfortable with that.
which type of fabric background did you use for this work too.
I have used a normal cotton fabric in white color.
Do you have a book that we can purchase?
Dear Janet,
I don’t have a book yet, but we are slowly working to publish one.
Hi Sarah,
I found a good tutorials for Brazilian Embroidery. I’ve ordered Rayon threads. So will try all the stitches. I will definitely let you know once I learn the stitches.
Again, Thanks a lot.
Ranjana
Dear Ranjana,
Will be happy to hear back from you after you finish your embroidery project. You may also upload your work for us and others to see. Best wishes.
hey sarah !
kk im jz a biggner im only in 7th !
i need ur help i cant do thiz bullion stitch when im pulling out it gets stuck
wht shud i do ?
Dear Sapna,
One reason that your bullion stitch is getting stuck when pulled could be because of the kind of needle you are using. Remember to use a needle with a thin eye (milliner’s needle)when you are doing stitches with knots. Usually, the knots get caught up in a big eye and pulling becomes difficult.
You can also try not winding the thread around the needle too tightly, so as to accommodate the needle’s eye to pass through without getting stuck.
I hope this helps.
P.S: The eye of the needle is the hole through which you pass the thread in the needle.
can you guide me if u can see the image clearly that which type of stitches are done in this mango motif? i know only sequin work and chain stitch in this. but inside this i cannot decide what is done.
The image is not very clear. Maybe it is the fly stitch.
thank you so much for making this website, this is where i got my passion for embroidery, im only 11 and i’ve learnt nearly all these stitches… on my work i have got the running, whip, back, cross, chain, blanket, satin, fishbone, whipped fly, pearl, woven circle, woven spider wheel, holbien and weaving stitches. and also the bullion, french and pistil knot! THANK YOU
Dear Mollie,
It is really nice to know that you drew your inspiration from our pages and are enjoying hand embroidery.
It really gives me joy and pride to know that you are so young and yet are putting effort to learn all these stitches. It is not easy to see such an interest when these days most youngsters look for newer hobbies while letting hand embroidery gradually wane out.
Please do upload some pictures of your work here by using the function just below the comment box. It will be a good inspiration to many other young beginners and it will be nice to share too.
Iam a Canadian and I want to know where there is more visual learning then reading learning of Brazilian Embroidery stitching
Dear Deborah,
I don’t have any kind of tutorial for Brazilian embrodiery yet. But, there are some good and simple tutorials if you check further online.