How to do the Trailing Stitch - Sarah’s Hand Embroidery

About the Trailing Stitch

The Trailing Stitch is a beautiful raised stitch often found in traditional embroideries. It is creatively used in contemporary stitching too. The Trailing Stitch creates highly embossed outlines with a smooth texture. Using silk thread can add a sheen to the stitch. Experiment with it using variegated yarns. You would be stitching over a thick cord or layers of threads. I will be using three payers of six strands of embroidery floss to lay the foundation (core) thread.

How to do the Trailing Stitch


Fig 1: First, bring out your thick thread or layers of threads from one point and lay it open.	Fig 2: Now, use the thread you wish to cover it with and start working your Satin Stitch around it.

Fig 3: Keep making the Satin Stitches. You have to go in through the fabric and over the layers of the foundation thread in a whipping fashion.	Fig 4: The completed portion would look like this. You can take the foundation thread through the fabric as you near the end to finish it with a knot.