About Hand Embroidery Stitches
Stitching or sewing has a history dating back to prehistoric times. It is believed, with archaeological pieces of evidence, that sewing must have come into being since the stone ages when people had begun to sew to attach pieces of animal skin using needles made of bones, antlers, and ivory. They probably must have used threads made of animal parts like veins, or plants.
As the times progressed and sewing started to become an integral part of life, not only newer methods of sewing styles developed but many other materials were tried as needles and threads. For many thousands of years, sewing or stitching was done exclusively by hands. Later, machines that helped to assist sewing and weaving were developed. The invention of sewing machines in the 19th century and computerization in the 20th century led to a revolution in the textile industry with the mass production of sewn objects.
Although sewing or stitching is commonly associated with clothing and fabrics, it must not be forgotten that this skill is used in many other craft areas like making shoes, bags, sporting goods, and all those things associated with attaching pieces of fabric. Sewing also comprises a wider range of art in the textile industry like embroidery, tapestry, quilting, applique, weaving, etc… Our tutorials deal with one of such arts: Hand Embroidery, which is very much practiced even today in spite of all the invasion of machine-made, ‘perfect’ sewn objects. It should be admitted, though, that it is a dying art with hobbyists finding lesser time and patience. On the other hand, hand embroidery is an important means of livelihood for many people in different countries. There are more than 400 types of different stitches from around the globe and even more types of hand embroideries. The stitches and associated hand embroideries can speak volumes of the history of its people, culture, and times.
This section of the tutorial will teach you the various hand embroidery stitches. These stitches are categorized based on certain families they belong to. These families are distinguished based on the nature of the technique used to create a particular stitch. It is possible that some stitches belong to more than one family, but an effort has been made to minimize the confusion. Hand stitching is an art to be perfected with patience and perseverance. It helps us in creative expression and ultimately gives us the satisfaction that most other hobbies can give. Happy learning…happy stitching. 🙂
You can go directly to the pages of each family from here:
Stitch Families
We have a dedicated Hand Embroidery Book with a picture dictionary and step-by-step guides to 300+ stitches. Buy now and start stitching!
I came across this site in search of the various stitches and how to do them because it was given as an assignment as a beginner i found this really interesting and the expalnation so simple.but finding the knot stitches difficult.
Hai sarah,
I love your work very much. Plz teach me your stitches and all that. I am very fond of studying this and looking for starting this as a career. I want to contact u so plz
this is FANTASTIC! i came across this while doing research on medieval needle manufacturing and sewing techniques (since i’m beginning to craft my own clothes). after looking though your, should i say VERY organized, catalogue of stitches, i’ve managed to find varieties i can both assemble AND decorate my clothing with. your skill and knowledge is a big help and inspiration.
may your needles stay sharp and your threads never break.
Thanks a lot Oncoming storm. 🙂
Hope you enjoy the tutorials here, and the many more to come!
Thank You . Very useful.
Am Working as a Fashion Lecture and Training Center Admin officer.Best Notes For HAND embroidery . (TOTALLY CLEAR.)
thanks A lot
Happy to know Vaisagh.
help me out with round cretan stitch
How to charge for kashida work?
I have some linen napkins with an edging that is coming undone and I can’t figure out how to repair them. On one side the edge looks like the closed blanket stitch, but on the other side it looks like just a basic blanket stitch. What stitch should I use to achieve this look?
Thanks,
Danna
Love this website ! I never leave these but this is amazing ! I have to make something now ! I like the more simple the embroidery is the better , so I will use this all the time !thanks again !
Thanks a lot for this wonderful tutorial. Ineed more simple way for haringbone &cretan stich. will u pse teach me. Pse do reply
Hi Sara,
Thnk u so much for this wonderful resource. am a fashion school student who is a house wife. am finding very comfort n relax after learning ur “course”. cos its seems to be very easy n helpful to any beginner. keep rocking…may god bless u n ur family dear.
regards
shybi
Hello, love your site, it is a delight. I have just finished a baby quilt and here is one of the squares using your special stitches.
It seemed to load upside down? Hope you can flip it?
Kind regards
Sue
Australia
Dear Sarah. I am retired now. I was wondering what I was going to do next as my gardening is getting so difficult, as I ha e trouble with my back. When I saw how many stitches there are…I immediately wanted to get started! I’ll be 70 soon…so I better find some patterns. I still have my threads from when I crossstitched years ago. Thank you!
Dear madam, all your emb. in (basic hand embroidery) are looks nice and easy to learn and make stitch.I thank you so much.Once again
Thank you
regards
T.sarojini
Dear Sarah
Hai,
can u pls teach me also how to do embroidery works . I feel bore at home. To utilize my spare time in a interesting way this is the best to thing one should learn. I would like to learn something about bead and other embroidery works. Can you teach me. Pls reply to my mail.
Thanks
Keep it up
Indulakshmi
Dear Sarah,
Thank you so much for these wonderful tutorials! I have started to learn hand embroidery and I am amazed by what I am able to do!
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how many stich are there in hand embroidery…
At 71, one would think I’d have this computer figured out; however, navigating these sites about gives me a break down!
How can I print out the different stitches to be used on a crazy quilt and how to do them?
Thanks
Hi Sarah,
I really want to do embroidery after seeing your tuotrials. I have ordered the materials to learn this after 30 years… But am sure your site will lead me undoubtly… Thanks for your time and hardwork to make these pages and fotos as I know how its tied up with the kids… Thanks again Sarah & Roxie for your great job.. Please do send me a note when the book gets completed I would luv to get that soon..
Hey Sarah.. Thank u sooo much for the wonderful explanation. As am a beginner, i didnt know even a single stitch. when i end up at ur site.. i got a confidence that atleast i can start learning stitching.. u hv given the minute details and superb explanation how to do each and every step.. really great.. 🙂
Wow. Just wow. Your website is the single best embroidery/stitch resource I have found. I am very much a beginner and I’m so incredibly grateful that there is someone like you out there. I can’t imagine all the time and effort it must have taken you/y’all to put together such an awesome reference. And, it’s free! I had no idea there were so many different stiches! I can’t wait to try them all. It will take years. I’m confident, though, that I’ll be able to do them, thanks to your website. Just wanted to say thanks!
Hey Sarah! This page is really useful! It has every stitch a beginner would want and the explanation is precise and simple too. Keep posting and sharing. 🙂
your website is the best out there so keep up the good job sarah!!!!
If possible, please can you help on knitting and tatting?
Hi Sarah & Rock Sea,
I am very happy and satisfied with your hard work because
1. I have recalled all the stitches which were forgotten
2. Learnt many unknown stitches.
3. I was not knowing name of many of the stitches.
I have searched many books and sites for the basic embroidery stitches but could not found the one which I was searching for. Before, I have visited your site but was unable to see that you have bifurcated the stitches under families. Its amazing friends you have just done a fantastic job.
Am always thankful to you.
one more thing wanna ask is what the fabric is called in english which v use for cross stitch the picture sent by val lovelace above plzzz help me out
dear Meena,
The cloth is called Matty fabric or Aida fabric.
i am beginnner in this part so i choose your web to conduct more
thanks
hello sarah! Your website is awesome and very helpful…. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise…. I do love doing embroidery… I am a fashion designer and hand embroidery is my forte…. I have just started working…. I am currently based in rajasthan….
Hey sarah..
M a beginner n a person who use to feel embroidery is very difficult…
Bt thnkz to u n ur tutorialz…. I jst love doing embroidery… Its been a piece of cake coz of u….thnk u so much…
I wnt to learn kutch or sindi embroidery too…plzzzz help….:-)