Portuguese Stem Stitch is also known as
Portuguese knotted stem stitch[EN], Puntada de tallo portugués / Nudo portugués [ES], Point de tige portugais [FR], Portugiesischer stielstich [DE], Ponto de haste português [PT].
How to do the Portuguese Stem Stitch
This stem stitch looks sophisticated after being completed. It follows a simple Stem Stitch technique with a little extra looping between each stitch. I will work on a slightly curved stitch line to demonstrate this stitch to you. You need to know the stem stitch to be able to do this stitch.
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| Fig 1: We start with a single Stem Stitch. Bring the needle out through A, take it in through B and out through C. | Fig 2: Now, take the needle under the stitch A-B without plucking the fabric beneath. Make sure the needle comes out from the left side of the point C, as shown. This makes a loop around the stitch A-B. |
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| Fig 3: Make another similar loop around the stitch A-B, keeping it towards the left of the previous loop. So, we get two loops. | Fig 4: Now, make the next stem stitch. After making both loops, continue to take the needle in through D and bring it out through E. Then, make the two loops. Make sure the loops encircle both A-B and C-D. |
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| Fig 5: Halfway through, our Portuguese stem Stitch would look like this. It gives out a complicated look. | Fig 6: A full curved stitch line would look like this. Observe how the stitch shows up at the two curves. |
