About the Chain Stitch Family
The stitches in the Chain Stitch Family are looped stitches. This means that they are made by looping the stitch around the needle. The various ways in which this is done makes a great many variations. This is one of the biggest family of stitches. The Chain Stitch is good to work on seams and combine with embellishments. Chain stitches are also used in making tambour lace, needlelace, macramé, and crochet. In machine sewing, Chain Stitch was used initially, which was replaced by a more secure stitch later. The oldest sample of Chain Stitch has been identified from the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun.
Chain Stitch Family in Embroidery
Chain Stitch is one of the oldest known hand embroidery stitches widely used among various cultures from Asia to Europe. The stitches follow a pattern of looping or weaving the thread to create chains in different ways. Its widespread use can be seen in Kashmiri numdah, Iranian Resht work, Central Asian suzani, Hungarian Kalotaszeg “written embroidery,” and Jacobean embroidery crewelwork. The Chain Stitch variations can be used for outlines, fillings, and motifs.
Chain Stitch Family
Learn 306 stitches categorized in 20 Stitch Families from our 600-page eBook.
Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over 18 years, making it accessible to everyone around the globe.
Thanks for this Sarah.
Thanks, Poonam!
A little embrodery I managed to do with the help of your website tutorials! Thanks, great site!
Hi Tejaswini! I look at it and feel proud that you stitched this beautiful piece using our tutorials. Beautiful! Keep stitching!
Would like to know if there is anything to make satin stitch easier especially in a very small area.
It was very useful for me. I was very much interested in hand embroidary. I was very happy to view all the stitches. Looking for more designs and patters from your side. Both saree and churidar neck patterns
Dear Geetha,
I am happy that you are able to learn and enjoy our pages. 🙂
hello sarah.
i really loved ur stiches design!! can u send me any cute chain stich design which may be easier for me to make.
i’ll be really greatfull.
Dear Asfiya,
I am glad that you likes our pages. Sadly, I do not hav any designs ready with me right now. We are planning to put up a few designs, but our regular travels keep us busy.
You can check the internet for many interesting designs.
Hi
i am sanchita, a stitch lover like you. i can send u some cute pics of chain stitch some from internet and some of my own creation.
sanchita datta
India
Hi Sarah,
I saw a stitch which resembles the chain stitch being done at the stitched ends of dupattas. Is that the normal chain stitch or some variation of it?
Regards,
Leema
Dear Leema,
I am not sure about this. Are you talking about the locking at the ends? Am not able to picture it.
No this is done after locking or stitching the end of the dupatta. The first stitch starts at one end of the dupatta and then the next three or four stitches are not on the cloth but outside it and then the fifth stich is again done on the cloth. I dont know if I have made it clear to you. Is there anyway I could send you the photo of it? I am sorry if I am troubling you too much!
Regards,
Leema
Dear Leema,
Sorry for taking long to reply back. I usually don’t go online when online.
I think I am getting a little picture of what you might be talking about though am not sure. Also, I don’t have any dupatta of that sort to even check on. I am not sure if it is chain stitch, but could be. If you you wish to send the photo, you can. hope I could be of help.
cheers! 🙂
I think u r talking abt some kind of “crochet”….Am I right?
Hey Victoria,
As of now, I don’t have a collection of patterns that uses only chain stitches. But, I could be posting a few in the future.
Since, almost all stitches in the chain stitch family are straight stitches, they can be used for any sort of outlining or filling of any kind of pattern.
The ethnic Kashmiri embroidery from the state of Kashmir, India is a form of embroidery that uses chain stitch exclusively. Their patterns are depictions of flora and fauna and use chain stitch for outlining and filling.
I personally feel chain stitches can be used for any kind of floral depictions easily. The beauty of it could depend on the color choice and the intricacy of the design.
Do you have patterns using only chain stitches?