Hand Embroidery Stitches | Most Important Stitches

Even if you have a sewing machine, there will be times when a pattern calls for some basic hand embroidery stitches. These are often used for decorative sewing and are great for faces on toy sewing patterns. Here I have put together 21 of the most common hand embroidery stitches for beginners to use.

Hand Embroidery stitches - Video

My basic stitches video includes the fern stitch, blanket stitch, backstitch, chain stitch and cross stitch. Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly sewing and craft videos.

HAND EMBROIDERY STITCHES

I have arranged this list of hand embroidery stitches alphabetically and added links to detailed tutorials from my blog if you would like to learn how to do each stitch.

Hand Embroidery Stitches #1 - Backstitch

Backstitch is a strong hand stitch generally used for stitching seams or for decoration. It is great for sewing doll mouths and noses. When hand stitching seams this is the perfect stitch where you want a strong and durable seam. The smaller your stitches, the stronger the seam will be.

Backstitch Instructions:

• I find it comfortable to work right to left
• Put the needle down into the fabric (1) and come up a short distance away (2)
• Going backward, put the needle back down at (3) (same place as (1)
• Come up in front of (2) at point (4)
• Repeat

Full Article: How to Backstitch

 Hand Embroidery Stitches #2 - Blanket Stitch

Blanket stitch can be used for sewing a decorative edge on blankets, toys and sewing projects. It can also be used to sew 2 pieces of fabric together and creates a nice strong seam in felt sewing projects. You will often see blanket stitch used with thicker embroidery threads.

Blanket Stitch Instructions:

• Working from the inside to the outside, put the needle down and out to the edge
• Make sure the thread is wrapped underneath
• Pull down away from the edge
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do Blanket Stitch (INCLUDES VIDEO)

Hand Embroidery Stitches #3 - Buttonhole Stitch

Buttonhole stitch is similar to blanket stitch and can be used to make pretty wheels that can be used for flowers. You can also use it on the edges of buttonholes of course! Buttonhole stitch is sewn in the opposite direction to blanket stitch and has a slightly raised knotted edge.

Buttonhole Stitch Instructions

• This stitch is normally worked right to left.
• Draw 2 parallel lines to use as a guide.
• Put the needle up from underneath and exit on the bottom right at (1)
• Move a short distance to the left and put the needle down at (2) and exit on the top line at (3).
• Pull the needle through and the thread down. Each time you pull down a little knot will form.
• Put the needle back in on the bottom row at (4) and exit at (5).
• Pull down with the thread.
• Repeat.

Full Article: How to do Buttonhole Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #4 - Chain Stitch

Chain stitch can be used as a nice and thick outline stitch and is a commonly used straight stitch. It makes a great stitch to use for letters and shapes that need to be filled as well as stems on flowers. Several rows of chain stitch can be used to produce thicker borders. In my photo above I did 3 rows of chain stitch in different colored threads.

Chain Stitch Instructions

• I find it most comfortable to work from right to left.
• Bring the needle up from underneath the fabric at (1).
• Put it back into the save exit point a (1). It can be touching or with a slight gap. This is the point (2).
• Bring the needle out a short distance away at (3).
• Repeat.

Full Article: How to do Chain Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #5 - Chevron Stitch

Chevron is one of my favorite hand embroidery stitches due to its geometric shape. It is commonly used for borders. The rows can be separated by a small space like my sample or joining for a geometric fill shape.

Chevron Stitch Instructions

• Chevron stitch is worked from left to right.
• It can help to use a pencil to mark v shapes first.
• Bring the needle to the top of the fabric at (1) and then put the needle down at (2) a short distance away.
• Exit at (3) which is halfway between (1) and (2).
• Bring the needle down in a v shape.
• Create a tab at the bottom of the v the same way as the top.
• Create a tab at the top and repeat to form the next chevron.

Full Article: How to do Chevron Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #6 - Couching Stitch

Couching is a method of over stitching thicker yarns or threads and can be done in eye-catching contrasting colors.

Couching Stitch Instructions

• Lay the thicker underneath thread along the surface of the fabric
• Bring the surface thread up at (1) on the side of the thicker thread
• Cross over and go back down at (2)
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do Couching

Hand Embroidery Stitches #7 - Cross Stitch

When people think of hand embroidery, this is often the first stitch that comes to mind. Tiny little cross stitches can be used to make entire intricate embroideries. There is something relaxing about just using the one stitch for a design.

Cross Stitch Instructions:

• I like to work the cross stitch right to left.
• From underneath bring the needle up at the top left of the cross at (1)
• Put the needle down at (2) which is on the diagonal and then move across to the left and come up at (3)
• Put the needle down at (4) at the top right and move across to the next cross at (5)
• Repeat.

Full Article: How to do Cross Stitch (includes single and double cross stitch)

Hand Embroidery Stitches #8 - Faggoting

Faggoting is a method of joining 2 pieces of fabric with stitches. It is often used along skirt borders and napkins.

Full Article: How to do Faggoting Embroidery

Hand Embroidery Stitches #9 - Feather Stitch

Feather Stitch is a beautiful stitch for stems and leaves. It looks a lot like coral to me. It can be structured and straight or free-flowing.

Feather Stitch Instructions:

• Draw 4 parallel lines
• I find it comfortable to work left to right
• Bring the needle up on the bottom line at (1)
• Insert the needle at (2) on the third line
• Exit at (3) on the second line making sure the thread is under the tip
• Repeat for (4) and (5) on the first and second row once again making sure the thread is under the tip

Full Article: How to do Feather Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #10 - Fern Stitch

Fern stitch is another stitch that looks pretty for stems and leaves. It looks nice delicately scrolling across your design.

Fern Stitch Instructions:

• Draw 3 parallel lines
• I find it comfortable to work from right to left
• Come up at (1) in the center line
• Put the needle down at (2) on the same line and come up at (3) on the top line
• (3) is in line with (1)
• Put the needle back down at (4) an come up at (5)
• (4) is the same as (2) and (5) is in line with (1)
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do Fern Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #11 - Fishbone Stitch

Fishbone stitch makes me think of fish skeletons but it is actually commonly used for leaves that have thick, dense padding and an interesting cross over effect along the center.

Fishbone Instructions:

• Draw your leaf shape and mark the center
• Starting at the center top, bring the needle up at (1) and put it down at (2) a short distance away
• Bring the needle up at (3) and cross it over the center line to go back in at (4)
• Come up at (5)
• Continue stitching while crossing over the center line

Full Article: How to do Fishbone Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #12 - Fly Stitch

Fly Stitch is an interesting "Y" shaped stitch that can be joined together to form leaves.

Fly Stitch Instructions:

• Optional - Draw a Y shape
• Bring the needle up at (1) and move across to (2)
• Come up at (3) which is the bottom of the V shape
• Secure the loop by putting the needle down at (4). This distance can be short or long

Full Article: How to do Fly Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #13 - French Knots

These little knots are really easy to do and make tiny flowers that are normally sewn in clusters. They can also be used for the center of Lazy Daisy and other flowers and make nice dandelions and fireworks.

French Knots Instructions:

• Come up from underneath at (1)
• Twist the thread around the needle (twist towards the back). Hold the thread taut
• Put the needle back down next to (1)
• The number of twists determines the size of the knot.

Full Article: How to do French Knots

Hand Embroidery Stitches #14 - Herringbone Stitch

Herringbone stitch is geometric shaped and is commonly used for borders. It can be double or single.

Herringbone Stitch Instructions:

• I find it comfortable to work from right to left
• Draw 2 parallel lines
• Come up at (1) on the top right of the line
• Bring the needle down in a diagonal at (1) and make a small stitch at (3) to the right
• Cross the needle on a diagonal again and make a small stitch (4) to (5)
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do a Herringbone Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #15 - Lazy Daisy

Lazy Daisys are a flower creating stitch that can be used to make simple or multi petal flowers. They can be joined in the center or left open.

Lazy Daisy Instructions:

• While not necessary, it can help beginners to draw your flower shape.
• From underneath, come up at (1) which is the inside of the petal
• Put the needle back down at (2) which is just underneath (1)
• Come back up at (3) at the tip of the first petal
• Put the needle down at (4) which is on the other side of the thread. This will secure the loop.
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do a Lazy Daisy

Hand Embroidery Stitches #16 - Running stitch

The running stitch is the easiest stitch for beginners due to its simple up and down motion. It is also the fastest stitch to sew. Similarly to backstitch, the smaller your stitches the stronger the seam. Running stitch can also be used for decorative purposes and is used in Japanese sashiko to create interesting wave-like effects.

Running stitch is not quite as strong as backstitch. For a stronger stitch used double thread.

Running Stitch Instructions:

• I find it comfortable to work from right to left
• From underneath, bring the needle up at (1) on the far right
• Put the needle down at (2) a short distance away
• Come up at (3)
• Repeat
• For fabric not in a hoop, take several stitches at once before pulling the thread through.

Full Article: How to do Running Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #17 - Satin stitch

Satin stitch is used for purely decorative purposes. Stitch flowers, leaves, circles - in fact, any shape you can think of. It is great for stitching eyes and cheeks on toys and dolls.

Create a frame to stitch within either with small straight stitches or removable pen or chalk then stitch from side to side.

Satin Stitch Instructions:

• Draw the shape you wish to fill
• Starting from the center, bring the needle from underneath on the edge of your shape at (1)
• Put the needle down at the top of the shape at (2) and come up just next to (1)
• Repeat and then do the other side

Full Article: How to do Satin Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #18 - Seed Stitch

Seed stitch (also called rice stitch) can be used as a decorative filling stitch or as a method of padding underneath satin stitch.

Seed Stitch Instructions:

• Draw your shape
• In a random position, bring the needle up and (1) and then go back down a short distance away at (2)
• Repeat randomly in your preferred density

Full Article: How to do Seed Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #19 - Stem Stitch

Stem stitch creates thick rope-like stitches that are great for stems, borders and geometric designs.

Stem Stitch Instructions:

• Bring the needle up from underneath at (1)
• Take a stitch at (2) and come up half way at (3)
• (3) is slightly below the line between (1) and (2)
• Repeat

Full Article: How to do Stem Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #20 - Straight Stitch

Straight stitch is not a single stitch but rather a collection of hand embroidery stitches. As the name implies, the stitches are done along a straight line with a single thread.

Full Article: How to do Straight Stitch

Hand Embroidery Stitches #21 - Web Stitch

Web stitch is a spiral-shaped stitch that can be used to look like radiating flowers. Use them as spider webs to make a spooky Halloween embroidery. They are created with an up and down weaving technique along the spokes.

Web Stitch Instructions:

• Draw a circle and mark the center
• Stitch spokes coming out from the center. You want an odd number.
• Bring the contrast thread up from the center and weave up and down around the spokes.
• Stop when you have the look you prefer.

Full Article: How to do Web Stitch

What will you be sewing with your basic hand embroidery stitches? Do you have another favorite not covered here? Please share it below.

MORE EMBROIDERY ARTICLES

1. Backstitch
2. Blanket Stitch
3. Buttonhole Stitch
4. Chain Stitch
5. Couching Embroidery Tutorial
6. Cross Stitch
7. Double Herringbone Stitch
8. Embroidery Basics
9. Faggoting Embroidery
10. Feather Stitch
11. Fern Stitch
12. Fishbone Stitch
13. Fly Stitch
14. French Knots
15. Hand Embroidery Stitches
16. Herringbone Stitch
17. Lazy Daisy
18. Running Stitch
19. Sashiko Embroidery
20. Satin Stitch
21. Seed Stitch Embroidery (Rice Stitch)
22. Stem Stitch
23. Straight Stitch
24. Web Stitch | Embroidery Tutorial
25. Whip Stitch