This stitch looks like series of crosses or Xs with a knot in between each X. Once you learn this stitch, you can experiment widely with this stitch by making various geometrical patterns like circles. You will then see how the same stitch could look differently wtih each pattern.

I will follow a slightly  curved line. This stitch is done from left to right.  The thinner the thread or bigger the base, the more it accentuates the feature of this stitch.

Fig 1: Start by bringing out the needle through A and putting it in through B. Both these points lie above the stitch line. Then, bring the needle out through C which lies right under A and below the stitch line.		Fig 2: Keep the stitch A-B a bit loose. Take the needle under A-B without plucking the fabric beneath.
Fig 3: Now, once again take the needle under A-B as shown in the illustration.		Fig 4: Pull the needle out to get a knot as shown above and slightly pull it down to bend the stitch A-B towards the centre. Then, put the needle in through D, a point right under B and below the stitch line. Bring it back up again from B as shown.
Fig 5: Continue the procedure by taking the needle in through E, which lies above the stitch line and bring it out through D. Make the knot and pull the stitch B-E towards the centre so that the knot falls on the stitch line. Keep up with this procedure for the entire design.		Fig 6: A finished line of sorbello stitch would look like this. Using a thinner thread would have accentuated the features of this stitch.
		Fig 7: This is a sample of the sorbello stitch done on a broader base. Here, you can see the features of this stitch more clearly.

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This stitch is just a plestrina stitch with an extra knot on each knot. This makes the knot look bigger and fuller.

You need to know the palestrina stitch to be able to do this stitch.

Fig 1: Lay one palestrina knot on the stitch line as illustrated. Now make another similar knot over this knot.		Fig 2: Take the needle beneath the base stitch without plucking the fabric underneath or the threads of the first knot to make the second knot.
Fig 3: Continue this process of making such knots.		Fig 4: A finished line of triple palestrina would look like this.

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This stitch is worked similar to the palestrina stitch, but in an entirely reversed fashion. We work this from right to left. What was right becomes left and left becomes right. Top becomes bottom and bottom becomes top.

I will use a curved stitch line to do this stitch.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A which lies slightly above the stitch line. Then, take the needle in through B which lies on the stitch line, right below A. Bring the needle out through C which lies on the left of B and on the stitch line.		Fig 2: Take the needle under the stitch A-B without plucking the fabric beneath. Note that the needle is angled below the point C.
Fig 3: Now, bring the needle from under A-B, but this time from above the point C. Loop the thread around the needle as shown.		Fig 4: Pull the needle out to form the knot. Continue the procedure to form more knots on the stitch line.
		Fig 5: A finished line of reversed palestrina stitch would look like this

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Also known as: double knot stitch, tied coral stitch, old english knot stitch, smyrna stitch, twilling stitch, pearl stitch

Palestrina stitch has its origin in Italy. Many embrodiery styles from Italy has palestrina stitch and there is even an embrodiery style called the Palestrina. This stitch is usually used for outlining or bordering purposes. Any type of fabric and thread can be used to do this stitch, but the perle cotton thread will give the best knotted effect.

There are two variations of palestrina stitch: The long armed palestrina stitch and the long legged palestrina stitch, both of which I have shown below.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through the point A, which lies on the stitch line. Then, take the needle in through B, which lies on the stitch line too. Bring out the needle through C, a point straight above and not too far from B.		Fig 2: Now, take the needle below the stitch A-B, without plucking the fabric underneath, as shown. The needle will be angled above or towards the left of the point C.
Fig 3: Again, take the needle under the stitch A-B. Only, this time, the needle is angled below or towards teh right side of the point C. Then, loop the thread around the needle as shown in the illustration.		Fig 4: When you pull out the needle, the first palestrina knot is formed. Start for the nest knot by putting in the needle through D on the stitch line and bringing it out from E, just above the point D. Continue with the procedure as we did for the first knot.
		Fig 5: The finished portion of palestrina knot would look like this.
		Fig 6: This is a variation of the palestrina stitch. The technique followed is the same. The only difference is that the stitch B-C (Fig 1) is taken a bit longer to give it a long ‘arm’. And so, this variation is called the ‘long armed palestrina’.
		Fig 7: Another variation is when the stitch A-B (Fig 1) is extended giving the stitch a long ‘leg’. Such variation is called a ‘long legged palestrina’. It would look like coral stitch with bolder knots. This illustration shows a long legged and long armed palestrina.

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Palestrina stitch and its members draw their origin from Italy. This stitch forms an essential part of many of italy’s ancient embroderies.

The characteristic of this stitch is a knoted line. Usually, these knots are closely placed, but variations can lead to longer stitches dotted with knots. These will look like the coral stitch with a big knot.

Palestrina stitches can be used on any fabric with almot any kind of thread. The bolder the the thread, the bolder the knots will be. The Perle cotton thread is often suggested as the knots show up better.

This stitch can be used to outline designs, do border work or even attaching appliques.

The members of palestrina stitch family are:
1. Palestrina stitch
2. Reversed palestrina stitch
3. Triple palestrina stitch
4. Basque knot
5. Sorbello stitch

Each of them differ much from each other in some ways, but the basic technique of making the knots remains the same. So, when going through the lessons, just gather in the logic of making the knots, and then, palestrina family of stitches will be one of the most interesting stitches to experiment with!

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, italian embroidery, italy, knotted palestrina stitch, long armed palestrina, long legged palestrina, palestrina embroidery, palestrina stitch, reversed palestrina stitch, sorbello stitch

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