This is a multipurpose stitch made over a foundation of a long straight stitch. The blanket stitch covers this straight stitch, without touching the fabric, hanging out like a loop. This method of stitch can be seen in some traditional needlelace embroidery forms like Aemilia Ars, from Bologna, Italy.

This technique is also used to make hook loops  in clothings.

Since this stitch throws out a dimensional effect, it can be easily used and experimented with in dimensional embroideries as well.

Though this stitch is popularly known as buttonhole bar stitch, it uses the blanket stitch. So, you need to know the blanket stitch to be able to continue with this tutorial.

Fig 1:  Begin by making the foundation of straight stitches. The illustration shows two straight stitches made between points A and B. For the sake of tutorial, a contrasting colored thread is used, but ideally a similar colored thread is better.		Fig 2: Now,  Bring the needle out from the point A. Take the needle from under the straight stitches withought plucking the fabric underneath. Loop the thread around the needle as we would for the blanket stitch.
Fig 3: Pull the needle out. We get our first blanket stitch over the bars of straight stitches. Now, continue with the process for the entire length of the straight stitch.		Fig 4: Half way through the stitch would look like this. Keep nudging the finished stitches to keep them close to each other.
		Fig 5: A finished buttonhole bar stitch looks like this.  You can make the straight stitches loose to give it a more outstanding effect.

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Tags: aemilia ars, blanket stitch, bologna, buttonhole bar stitch, buttonhole stitch, dimensional embroidery, embroidery tutorials, hand embroidery, hooks, italy, loops

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This is a very decorative, dimensional stitch. It can be used for 3 dimensional embroidery as it gives a stand out look.

Buttonhole wheel cup is done over a buttonhole wheel foundation. So, you need to know the blanket stitch and the buttonhole wheel stitch to be able to do this stitch.

I have spaced out the blanket stitches and used thin thread to make the features of the stitch clearer for the sake of the tutorial. But, the use of thicker thread, or a buttonhole wheel foundation with closer blanket stitches (closely made spokes) will help in bringing out the real beauty of this stitch.  The stitch would then stand out like a little cup, as the name suggests.

Fig 1: Start by doing a foundation of buttonhole wheel stitch. Now, bring out the needle from one corner of a spoke of the wheel, as shown. For the sake of tutorial, I have used a contrasting color, but the same colored thread can be used.		Fig 2: Start making blanket stitches with the outer rim of the wheel, as shown.
Fig 3: When you complete one trip around the rim, continue the same process, but this time with the previous stitch as the base. It is this process that builds up the cup around the wheel.		Fig 4: A completed buttonhole wheel cup will look like this after two trips around the rim. A Thicker thread and closely made buttonhole wheel will accentuate the ‘cup’ effect.

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Tags: blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch, buttonhole wheel, buttonhole wheel cup, dimensional embroidery

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This is satin stitch with a little embossed or dimensional look. This is because we first give the pattern a little padding at the base before doing the satin stitch. I will  illustrate this stitch using a leaf pattern.

You need to know any basic straight line stitch like chain stitch, outline stitch , or  back stitch, to do the outlining. You also need to know the satin stitch.

Fig 1: First, stitch an outline of the pattern to be done. I have used chain stitch to outline, but you can use any straight stitch like the back stitch or the outline stitch.		Fig 2: Once the outline is done, fill the inside of the pattern with straight stitches. You can fill it up with chain stitch too. The idea is to give a padding for the satin stitch that we will be doing, so we need not make this stitch to cover the pattern entirely.
Fig 3: Once that is done, do the satin stitch to cover the pattern. The needle needs to go in and out of the fabric from outside the chain stitch.		Fig 4: The completed pattern will look like this.

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Tags: dimensional embroidery, embroidery tutorial, filling stitch, hand embroidery, leaf pattern, outline stitch, padded satin stitch, satin stitch, satin stitch family, satin stitch variations

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