Also known as: double knot stitch, tied coral stitch, old english knot stitch, smyrna stitch, twilling stitch, pearl stitch
Palestrina stitch has its origin in Italy. Many embrodiery styles from Italy has palestrina stitch and there is even an embrodiery style called the Palestrina. This stitch is usually used for outlining or bordering purposes. Any type of fabric and thread can be used to do this stitch, but the perle cotton thread will give the best knotted effect.
There are two variations of palestrina stitch: The long armed palestrina stitch and the long legged palestrina stitch, both of which I have shown below.
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| Fig 1: Bring the needle out through the point A, which lies on the stitch line. Then, take the needle in through B, which lies on the stitch line too. Bring out the needle through C, a point straight above and not too far from B. |
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Fig 2: Now, take the needle below the stitch A-B, without plucking the fabric underneath, as shown. The needle will be angled above or towards the left of the point C. |
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| Fig 3: Again, take the needle under the stitch A-B. Only, this time, the needle is angled below or towards teh right side of the point C. Then, loop the thread around the needle as shown in the illustration. |
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Fig 4: When you pull out the needle, the first palestrina knot is formed. Start for the nest knot by putting in the needle through D on the stitch line and bringing it out from E, just above the point D. Continue with the procedure as we did for the first knot. |
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Fig 5: The finished portion of palestrina knot would look like this. |
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Fig 6: This is a variation of the palestrina stitch. The technique followed is the same. The only difference is that the stitch B-C (Fig 1) is taken a bit longer to give it a long ‘arm’. And so, this variation is called the ‘long armed palestrina’. |
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Fig 7: Another variation is when the stitch A-B (Fig 1) is extended giving the stitch a long ‘leg’. Such variation is called a ‘long legged palestrina’. It would look like coral stitch with bolder knots. This illustration shows a long legged and long armed palestrina.
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Tags:
double knot stitch,
italian embroidery,
italy,
old english knot stitch,
palestrina embroidery,
palestrina stitch,
smyrna stitch,
tied coral stitch,
twilling stitch
24 Comments »
Good one! I will be trying this on my hand kerchief that i plan to create this weekend.
Hey LJ,
Do let me know when you are finished. Would like to know how it came out to be.
Saramme……..
…chumma vilichatha…
oh hehe..
Hello Sarah…. I completed my kerchief… I feel I have done justice your tutorials…
I will try to take a pic and email you the same…
wow LJ, looks like you are very happy with what you have done.
I feel eager to see it too. Yes, do send me a picture to my email when possible.
[...] for my first square and just filled in the hearts with a light pink floss. The border is the Palestrina stitch and although it’s not the most perfect hand embroidery, I’m in love with what it [...]
HI,
You have the best site with regard to the various stitches… each stitch is so well described.. And i am learning a lot from the tutorials… Thanks so much for them…
Hey Chethana,
Thanks! Good to know that you are enjoying the stitches.
Hey..,
thanks for these lessons. I got lot through this.
Sanju,
very nice of you thax a lot to teach me theses stiches
Dear Tasnim,
Glad that you enjoy learnign from these pages.
Hi Sarah,
Your site is very nice. I used to stitch when in school but had forgotten all the stitches over the years. Have been looking for a site to learn the stitches and your site is the perfect one. It’s really very helpful. Please do upload some designs that you have worked on so that we can learn and do it for ourself.
Thanks,
Nivedita
Hello Nivedita,
So glad that our pages helped us revive what you forgot in school. I will try to put up my own designs and work as soon as get a chance to.
hello! sarah.this is really cool website,i had been trying to do this stitch since long but coudnt get it and with the help of this illustration I DID IT!!!my sample looks good.thanx alot.
Dear Hina,
Best wishes.
So nice to hear about your success with this stitch.
hey hina nice to see a mauritian interested in stitch works
thanks a lot ……………. its very clear to understand
Hey Sarah,
I am a complete beginner at hand embroidery. But even someone like is learning lots from ur superb tutorials…great job so far…..
Can u post some patterns for selwar kamiz, baby dress and tablecloths,…or recommend a site where i can view beautiful patterns??
It wud be great help…
Hello Kimia,
I am glad that you find our pages good.
I might not be able to help you much with a particular site for good patterns, but you can do a google search for the kind of desired patterns. There are plenty of them out there.
You have made a very clear description of Palestrina stitch. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I was taught to embroider as soon as could hold a hoop. But, as so many things, if you don’t use it you lose it. You have inspired me to begin again.