This stitch is a very simple stitch, which does not incorporate knots, but loops.  It is worked from right to left.

I will be working over a single stitch line.

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Fig 1: Begin by bringing out the needle at the right end on the stitch line, at a point A. Then, take the needle through B, which lies on the stitch line and bring it out from C, a point right below B.		Fig 2: Now, before pulling the stitch A-B tight, take the needle under it as shown. Do not pluck the fabric underneath.
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Fig 3: Pull the needle out completely to get the first knot. Then, again, take the needle in through D, which lies on the stitch line and bring it out through E, a point right below D. The shorter this stitch, the more ’round’ and ‘pearled’ the look. Continue the procedure for the entire length of the stitch line.		Fig 4: A completed row of pearl stitch would look like this.
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Tags: embroidery tutorial, french knot, hand embroidery, hand embroidery tutorials, knot stitch, knots, loop stitch, palestrina stitch

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The stitch dictionary is arranged in alphabetical order and will help you to go to a stitch directly. Just click on the alphabet given in the index to go to the stitch beginning with that alphabet. Some stitches are known by multiple names and all names are included here. Hovering over the stitch names will give you the most common name by which the stitch is known.

A .B . C . D . E .F .G . H I . J . K . L . M .N . O .P . Q.R . S . T . U .V .W .X . Y .Z

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Tags: edging and border stitch, embroidery, embroidery tutorial, feather stitch, fly stitch, hand embroidery, hand embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery tutorials, herring bone stitch, knot stitch, needlework, palestrina stitch, running stitch, stem stitch, stitch dictionary, stitches

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Also known as: bullion stitch, caterpillar stitch, coil stitch, knot stitch, post stitch, worm stitch, porto rico rose, grub knot

This is an interesting stitch used to make simple motifs. I would say that this is an ‘elongated’ knot which can be used liberally to group together and make dense textures. This stitch gives an embossed look, contibuting to the brazilian embroidery that uses stitches of 3D nature.

Note to use a Milliners needle for this stitch. A milliners needle has the same thickness throughout its length, thus making the passing of the wound thread through the needle easy. You will be saving a lot of frustration by using this needle.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A and put the needle through B at a desired length.		Fig 2: Now, bring the needle out through A again. Then, wind the thread around the needle as shown. The  distance of wound thread should measure the same as the distance between A and B. Too many or too less wraps will spoil the stitch.
Fig 3: Then, hold the wrapped thread with your fingers and pull the needle out with the other finger. Keep pulling the needle completely in an upward direction till the wraps lay on the fabric as shown above. Adjust and straighten the wraps if required and put in the needle back through B.		Fig 4: The finished bullion stitch would look like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, grub knot, hand embroidery, knot family, knot stitch, knots, milliner's needle, porto rico rose, post stitch, worm stitch

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Also known as: German knot, Snail trail

This stitch is done from right to left. The knots fall in between a trail of straight stitch. This stitch can be used for various different types of embroideries, especially in making stem patterns.

I will be working on a curved stitch line to show the flexibility of the stitch.

Fig 1: Bring out the needle out from A. Put in the needle through B and bring it out from C, both which lie on either side of the stitch line.		Fig 2: Loop the thread around the needle as shown.
		Fig 3: Pull out the needle and you will see a knot formed. continue with the procedure of making knots.
Fig 4: A completed line of coral stitch would look like this. It gives a feeling of a thread docked down with tiny stitches.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, german knot, hand embroidery, knot family, knot stitch, knot stitch variants, knots, snail trail, stem stitch family

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French knot is one of the easiest of all knots. Interestingly, however, it is often hailed as the one of the most difficult-to-handle or difficult-to-do stitches. This, so much so, that learners often end up hating to do this stitch. I personally feel it is one of the most creatively use-able stitches once learnt, and not much of a deal.

This stitch can be used to do little flowers, or as a filling stitch to fill in small circles and centre of flowers. Many closely done french knots can give a ‘woolly’ appearance and can be used creatively. You use both hands to do this stitch, so I would advise you read the instructions also to understand the illustrations.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A.		Fig 2: Now, place the needle close to the fabric. Wrap the thread around it twice, as shown.
Fig 3: Keep the longer end of the thread pulled with your fingers while putting the needle back in a point just close to A or even through A.  This is probably what you have to master. The trick is: if you are holding the needle with your right hand fingers, wrap the thread and hold it pulled with your left hand fingers. Vice versa.  This makes it easy to pull back the needle without the risk of pulling out of the wrapped thread, to put it back into the point A. If this seems difficult for you, try this: after wrapping the thread, turn the needle around about 180 degrees and then try to put it in A or near A.		Fig 4:Pull down the needle through the fabric. You will see your first french knot formed.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, french knot, hand embroidery, knot stitch, knots, penny squares, redwork, turkey red embroidery

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