Satin stitch is probably one of the most beautiful stitches, when done properly. It is equally difficult in certain ways. This family of stitches focusses on filling a motif using series of stitches done closely to each other. While doing this stitch, it is important to pay attention to the neatness of the outline and to keep each stitch close to each other to give it a satin finish.
There are different varieties of satin stitch, each to suit the pattern to be done.
handembroidery sample : satin stitch family
Many cultures use satin stitch for their embroidery purposes. It is found in the lands of north Africa, south America, western Asia, south-eastern Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Amongst all, China used it in plenty. Many robes have been decorated using the satin stitch in the finest way in ancient China. The folk embroideries of Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam include techniques adapted from China. The skills of creating satin stitch images were carried to an extent where double sided images were created on a single piece of silk. This is an extremely complicated technique with its roots believed to be from the third century.
In India, one of the well known embroideries using satin stitch is the ‘Phulkari’ from the Punjab region. ‘Phulkari’ means ‘flower work’ and the finest of them is called ‘bagh’, which means ‘garden’ . It is done in marigold colored thread over rust colored cloth. The importance of ‘Phulkari’ shawls still prevail amongst women of India and Pakistan. When a girl is born, her maternal grandmother begins embroidering a ‘bagh’ which later becomes a part of the trousseau during the girl’s wedding.
Tags: filling stitch, flower work, india, pakistan, phulkari, satin stitch, satin stitch family, satin stitch variations
Hi! Your work is so beautiful & lovely.
Also would like to know the threads your have used dosen’t look like Anchor. What thread should we use to look the embroidery so beautiful.
Thanks & Regards,
Darshana
Dear Darshana,
Otherwise too, many times perle cotton makes the filling look neater and more beautiful than anchor thread.
Thanks for your comments. To do satin stitch family, I have used perle cotton. I thought this thread would describe the pictures clearly.
i would like to know buttonhole stitch. Could you please upload the procedure.
Dear Alka,
I have the buttonhole stitch and it’s members in my tutorial list. It will take some time for me to upload new stitches as we are in the middle of shifting to a new place and settling down.
very nice and informative
Hello.. Do you personally teach stitching in any class, would like to join immediately…:)
Hello Avlin,
I do teach hand embrodiery personally. It is conducted at Pashan-Panchvati in Pune.
You can check this post for more details: http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/reference/summer-workshop/
hello Sarah!!
satin stitch is probably most easy but most skill demanding stitch .i have tried but can u suggest some tips about working it on curvy lines and sharp angles.
Dear Navneet,
Very true: Satin stitch, as much easy as it looks, it demands practice and precision for a good quality.
While working on curvy lines, keep the stitches closer inwards. Sometimes, the stitch points might overlap in the inner curve.
For sharp angles, the same technique might apply. But, depending on each pattern, the fabric you use and the needle and thread, you will have to check if it is practical or not. Else, it is better to do satin stitch horizontally first, then, start the vertical way. This avoids you from doing a sharp angled turn, that is not always possible neatly.
I hope this helps.