This decorative stitch is a series of twisted chain stitch run over a bunch of straight stitches. The over all visual effect is that of a sheaf or a butterfly. Usually, 3 straight stitches are tied with a twisted chain stitch, giving it a sheaf bundle look.

To do this stitch, you need to know the twisted chain stitch. Remember that you do not go through the fabric or even pluck it while doing the twisted chain stitch as it is done over the foundation of the straight stitches.

For the sake of this lesson, I have laid three different types of foundations. This will give you an idea of the different effects a butterfly chain stitch can make.I will work the straight stitches from left to right, but will work the twisted chain stitch  from bottom to top.

		Fig 1: To begin, we make a foundation by making a row of straight stitches. For that, we draw the needle from A-B, C-D, E-F and so on.
Fig 2: For this lesson, I have made three different kinds of straight stitch foundations. X: sets of three straight stitches spaces evenly between each other. Y: a series of straight stitches with no spacing. They will be bundled up in sets of three. Z: sets of closely stitched four straight stitches with different vertical heights.
Fig 3: Now we begin to bundle the straight stitches using twisted chain stitch. For that, bring the needle out from the bottom of the last straight stitch. Take the needle under the first set of straight stitches as shown.		Fig 4: Now, loop the thread around the needle to form a twisted chain loop. This loop will hold the set of straight stitches in a bundle.
Fig 5: Once the needle is pulled and thread is tightened, a bundle will look like this. This has a sheaf look.		Fig 6: Continue with this procedure till all the straight stitches are bundled. To end the twisted chain, anchor up the last loop as shown.
Fig 7: The completed butterfly stitch will look like this. Observe how each foundation throws out a different visual appearance.

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Tags: detached wheatear stitch, embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, twisted chain stitch, wheat sheaf, wheatear stitch

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Oyster stitch is complex looking, but infact easy. It is a combination of a single rossette stitch loop and the lazy daisy. This stitch is where lazy daisy stitch encircles the rosette stitch loop, or in other words, the rosette stitch fills the lazy daisy. You get a slight embossed feel from this stitch and can be used for small petal or leaf , or any similar formations.

You need to know the rossette stitch and lazy daisy to be able to do oyster stitch.

Fig 1: We begin by doing a rossette stitch loop. So, we bring the needle out through A, put it in through B and bring it out through C as shown above. We loop the thread around the needle to form a twisted chain loop.		Fig 2: Once we get a twisted loop, we take the needle beneath the right leg of the loop as we would in rossette stitch.
Fig 3: Now, we will encircle the rossette stitch with the lazy daisy. For that, continue by putting in the needle through A (where the right leg of the rossette stitch begins) and bring it out from C. Loop the thread around like we would for a lazy daisy, as shown above.		Fig 4: Pull the needle out from C and anchor the lazy daisy loop.
		Fig 5: A finished oyster stitch would look like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, lazy daisy, oyster stitch, rossette chain stitch, twisted chain stitch

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Fig 1: Make a twisted chain stitch loop with the first point A on the stitch line. Now, put the needle in through D and bring it slightly out through E, which lies ON the stitch line. This is a similar pattern we follow for twisted chain stitch. The only difference here is that D falls just above B instead of near C. This helps to close up the spaces between each stitch to give that embossed rich look.		Fig 2: Loop the thread around as we would usually for a twisted chain stitch. Pull the needle out. Continue this procedure.
Fig 3: Note that when you do the curves, the stitches will get longer. This is to compensate for the curves.		Fig 4: As you end the curve, the stitches will fall back to its normal or shorter stitches.
Fig 5: A finshed curve of a rope stitch would look like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, rope stitch, twisted chain stitch

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This is a wonderful looking stitch. Each loop drops vertically from the stitch line, instead of lying on it. The way the loop is twisted gives it a knotted effect and a complicated look. Ideally, it follows a right to left direction.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through a point A which lies on the stitch line. Put the needle in through B which lies on the left of A.Note that B lies on the stitch line too. Bring the needle out through C and loop the thread around the needle as shown.		Fig 2: Pull out the needle to get the twisted chain. Now take in the needle through the right ‘leg’ of the twisted chain as shown. Do not pluck the fabric underneath.
Fig 3: Once the thread is pulled out, we get a knotted lookign loop like this.		Fig 4: For the next loop, put in the needle on the stitch line towards the left of the existing loop and wrap the thread around.
Fig 5: To give the knotted effect, take the needle in under the right ‘leg’ of this newly made loop.		Fig 6: Continue this procedure to finish the entire pattern. Observe how the chains or loops close in and open up at various curves.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, rossette chain stitch, twisted chain stitch, twisted daisy border stitch

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To do this stitch, you should be aware of the chain stitch and twisted chain stitch. Barred chain stitch is just a sequence of these two stitches alternating each other.

I would be following a curved stitch line for the illustration.

Fig 1: Begin the stitch by making a simple chain stitch loop.		Fig 2: Now put in the needle at the left of the chain to begin a twisted chain loop.
Fig 3: Loop the thread around and pull out the needle for a twisted chain.		Fig 4: The pattern would look like this. Continue it with a chain stitch and twisted chain stitches in an alternate pattern.
Fig 5: Your finished pattern would look like this.

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Tags: embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, twisted chain stitch

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