This is a very interesting stitch that leaves scope for some experimentation. A series of straight stitches are used to overlap each other to develop a symmetric shape like square, circle, heart, etc… This stitch can be worked nicely over even weaved fabric, but this tutorial will illustrate it over normal fabric. Rhodes stitch can make great filling textures. 

I will demonstrate a square shape using this stitch. So, I will work inside a square drawn on the fabric. The outline of the square will be the stitch line for the rhodes stitch.

Fig 1: Start by coming out from one corner of the square shape, the point A. Take the needle in at the opposite end, point B.		Fig 2: Now, come out from C, a point near point A. Go in through D, a point opposite to C. Then, again come out through E, and continue with this process.
		Fig 3:  A finished square looks like this. Since the straight stitches run from one end to the other, overlapping each other at the center, it gives a ‘spinning’ appearance.  This technique can be used to make any shape, especially symmetric ones. So, try circle, triangle, and heart shapes too.

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Tags: embroidery tutorials, hand embroidery, rhodes stitch, straight stitch

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This stitch is just an extension of the radiating stitch. You can say it is like mirror images of the radiating stitches, made to look like a lantern. The Lantern stitch can be used to make simple motifs or base for extended variations. It can be used nicely over even weaved fabric as well.

You need to know the radiating stitch to be able to continue with this tutorial. 

Fig 1: Start by making radiating stitch		Fig 2: Then, make a mirror image of the radiating stitch, as shown.
Fig 3: Now, bring the needle out through B, in through A, and out through C. This process will start connecting both the radiating stitches, giving it a lantern look. Connect the remaining points.		Fig 4: A finished lantern stitch looks like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorials, hand embroidery, lantern stitch, radiating stitch, straight stitch

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This is a decorative version of the arrow head stitch. Again, it can be used to creative beautiful out linings or borders.

You need to know the arrow head stitch to be able to continue with this tutorial.

Fig 1: Make a horizontal row of arrow head stitches.		Fig 2: Now, bring the needle out with a contrasting thread, from one end, as shown. Pass it under the two arrow head stitches as in the picture.
Fig 3: Turn around and pass it under the two arrow head stitches and the next stitch, as illustrated.		Fig 4: Repeat the process for the rest of the row.
		Fig 5: A finished row looks like this. Each angle of the arrow head stitch would be circled by the contrasting thread that was woven around it.

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Tags: arrow head stitch, border stitches, embroidery tutorials, hand embroidery, straight stitch, threaded arrow head stitch

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This stitch incorporates the darning stitch and the holbein stitch. This stitch a kind of lovely geometric pattern that can be used as a patterned filling over large areas.

You need to know the darning stitch  and the holbein stitch to understand this tutorial.

Fig 1: First make rows of running stitch in a brick like manner, as you would in darning stitch. Try to keep the stitches longer and the spaces shorter for a better effect.		Fig 2: On the return journey of the stitch, join the running stitches on the upper and lower adjacent rows. These straight stitches that will join the running stitches would be slightly angled, as shown.
		Fig 3: The finished pattern would look like this.

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Tags: darning stitch, embroidery tutorials, handembroidery, handembroidery tutorial, holbein stitch, japanese darning stitch

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Also known as: Fan stitch, Fancy fan, Straight Fan

This tutorial is an illustration, of many,on how a few straight stitches can be combined to form patterns to use for embroidery.

This stitch uses eight straight stitches to form a fan like pattern.

Fig 1: Begin by making the leg of the ‘fan’, by doing a straight stitch A-B.		Fig 2: Now, make the sitches C-B, D-B, E-B, as shown.
Fig 3: Continue making these straight stitches in a slanting manner with B as the centre point. The ray or fan effect begins to take shape.		Fig 4: A completed ray stitch would look like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorials, fan sittch, fancy fan, hand embroidery, ray stitch, straight fan, straight stitch

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