Embroidery Stitch Tutorials

February 27, 2026

Stitches

Tip: Vary length and direction for decorative effects.

Tip: Keep stitch lengths even for smooth lines.

Bring needle up at point A.
Insert needle down at point B (one stitch length ahead), but do not pull the stitch tight. Leave a small loop, and use your finger to lay it downward.
Bring needle up between A and B, closer to A (C). Pull the previous stitch closed now.
Repeat, keeping the stitches held downwards as you go.
To end the stitch, place your final stitch close to the previous one.

Remember to keep the working thread consistently below the needle.

Bring needle up at point A.
Insert needle down at point B (to the right), do not pull the stitch tight.
Bring needle up at point C (center bottom of the V), catching the thread under the needle.
Pull to form a V shape.
Insert needle down at D
Repeat, bringing the needle up at E, down at F, leaving a small loop.
Bring the needle back up at D, catching the thread to form the V.
To end a line of fly stitches, anchor with a tiny straight stitch at the bottom.

Bring needle up at point A.
Insert needle back down into the same hole (or very close), but do not pull the stitch tight.
Bring needle up at point B, one stitch length ahead, with thread under the needle.
Pull gently straight away from the chain to form a loop.
Anchor the loop with a tiny straight stitch at the bottom.

Start by creating a chain (See Lazy Daisy / Detached Chain), but instead of anchoring the first chain, insert your needle back in the same hole again, and create another chain.
End the line of chains by anchoring with a small straight stitch.

Start your brick stitch with a line of back stitches, being careful to keep the stitch lengths as even as possible.
For the next line of stitches, start the first line with a stitch of half the length. Fill in the line with the rest of the stitches the normal length, so that all of the stitches are offset.
Finish that line with another small stitch.
Continue making lines of stitches, with every other one offset by half the stitch length.

Bring the needle up, and hold the working thread off to the side in your non-dominant hand. Place the needle under the thread.
Wrap the thread around the needle, and keep the thread pulled gently taut.
Wrap the thread again, typically french knots are wrapped 2-3 times.
Keeping the thread pulled taught, insert the needle back into the fabric right next to the original hole.
Gently pull the needle and thread through, keeping the tension with your other hand, until the thread is all the way through and the knot is formed.
Try increasing the number of wraps for a thicker knot.

The granitos stitch is essentially making multiple straight stitches between the same point.

Start by making a straight stitch, from A to B.
Bring your needle back up at A again - be careful not to pierce the existing threads. You can hold the tail off to the side to make it easier to place the needle beside the existing thread.
Insert the needle back in at B, and as you pull the stitch down, hold the thread off to one side, so the new straight stitch lays beside the existing one. Don't pull it too tightly.
Repeat on the other side.
If needed, add more stitches for an even fuller, plump stitch.