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 is an easy to do stitch that can add texture and interest to your fabric.

I will work around a circle divided into many equal parts to resemble a cart wheel. The stitch points will fall on the outer circle and the center. 

Fig 1: Start by bringing the needle out from A and in through B, two points on the outer circle.		Fig 2: Now, bring the needle out again through A. Then, take the needle in through C, the center. Come out through D, as shown.
Fig 3: Now, repeat the procedure as in the first step.		Fig 4: Continue with this process for the rest of the circle.
		Fig 5: A finished wheel looks like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, eyelet wheel, hand embroidery, straight stitch

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A needle is the main stitching tool that has been used since times immemorial. Needles have a sharp tip at one end which is used to pierce through the fabric. The other end of the needle has a small hole or opening called the ‘eye’. The thread is passed through this eye.

Needles come in various sizes and types. While some needles, especially sharp ones, are used for stitching, there are some other kinds that are used for knitting or crochet work.

This page illustrates some needles. Information on more types of needles will be added.

Sharps: These needles are used for common sewing purpose. It has a sharp point and a round eye. These needles come medium length, one factor with which you can differentiate it from the other types of needles.		Crewel / embroidery needles: These needles are similar to sharps, but has a longer eye to accomodate more number of embroidery floss or threads.
Betweens / quilting needles: These needles are shorter and thinner with a samll round eye. They are used for fine stitches on heavy fabric or layers of fabric.		Tapestry needles and Chenille needles: These needles have long eye to accomodate more number of threads and even ribbons. While the tapestry needle is blunt, chenille needles are sharp.
Milliner’s needles: These needles are longer than sharps. They are good for basting and pleating. Its eye has the same size as that of the needle shaft, and so passing through pleats of fabric is comfortable.		Beading needles: These needles are very thin with really thin eye. This thin nature makes the needle pass through the holes of beads easily.
Crochet needles: These are long needles without an eye. These needles are used for crochet work, which does not involve the need to pierce through fabric, and so, it does not have a sharp end too. Crochet technique uses hooking and pulling out the thread, and so, the head of the crochet needle comes with hooks of various sizes. What size to use depends on the size of the thread that is used.		Knitting needles: These are long needles that come in various sizes and width. Knitting needles does not have an eye, as it is not used to stitch through fabrics, but knit. So, it does not even have a sharp end, but a tapering end.

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Tags: beading, chenille, crewel, crochet, embroidery, hand embroidery, knitting, milliners', needles, quilting, sharps, tapestry

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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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