Mastering basic embroidery stitches opens endless creative possibilities while building confidence in needlework fundamentals. Essential stitches every beginner should learn include the versatile backstitch for clean outlines, the satin stitch for smooth fills, and the French knot for adding texture. Straightforward stitches like the running stitch and stem stitch form the building blocks for more complex techniques, while the lazy daisy creates perfect floral elements with minimal effort. Many beautiful projects use just 3-5 simple stitches combined creatively, proving complexity isn’t necessary for impressive results. These fundamental stitches work across various embroidery styles from traditional to contemporary, adapting easily to different scales and fabrics. Learning proper stitch tension and consistent length matters more than stitch variety when beginning, as these skills transfer to all future embroidery work. Simple stitches often yield the most satisfying projects, allowing the embroiderer’s personal style to shine through uncomplicated technique.

EMBROIDERY—CHRISTMAS

I encourage you to use additional resources if you need more instruction than this simple guide. I have found video to be very useful in understanding stitches. Please click on the links below to watch very quick clips of the stitches. You can also find a directory of longer videos here, with more detailed instruction. Please stay tuned as I add more stitches to this index and fill out each section with more details and video. Stitches are listed alphabetically. ———————————— Back stitch Back stitch is worked from right to left and is great for creating solid lines. It helps to shorten the stitch length when using this stitch (and other linear stitches) to outline curved lines. You can also use this stitch to fill a shape and your stitches will look like little bricks. It’s also a great stitch for lettering. Start a stitch length away from the beginning of your line. Come up at A, then down at B, the start of your line. Then up a stitch length away at C, and back down at A. Up again at D and then down at C. Be sure to use the same same holes (A, C, etc) so there is no gap between your back stitches. VIDEO: Back stitch VIDEO: 2 ways to fill with back stitch Lettering tutorial Whipped back stitch To whip your back stitch come up at A, the beginning of your line. Then weave under and over EVERY stitch until you reach the end of the line. Bring your needle down at B and anchor. VIDEO: Whipped back stitch Lettering tutorial Chain stitch Chain Stitch creates a lovely textured line and has many variations to play with. Come up and down with the needle at the start of your line (A), leaving a loop. Come back up within the loop (B), a stitch length away, and pull to tighten the loop to desired tautness. End the chain with a small stitch tacking the loop down. This is another nice linear stitch for lettering. VIDEO: Traditional, reverse and detached chain stitch Lettering tutorial Reverse chain stitch Reversed Chain Stitch starts at the “end” of chain stitch with the small tacking stitch (A-B). Come up through the fabric a stitch length away (C) and slip your needle under the tacking stitch (do not pierce the fabric) before coming back down through the same hole (C). Continue in a chain. VIDEO: Traditional, reverse and detached chain stitch Lettering tutorial Detached chain stitch Detached Chain Stitch AKA Lazy Daisy is great for leaves and flowers. You can experiment with tension here, giving a thin or more rounded leaf/petal shape. Here you create a series of single chains. VIDEO: Traditional, reverse and detached chain stitch Heavy chain stitch VIDEO: Heavy Chain Stitch Couching Couching is a great linear stitch I like to use for lettering and stems or vines. This stitch uses two working threads which can vary in size (ply), type and color. The couched thread is pulled up at the start of your line (a) and goes down all of the way at the end of your line (b), leaving slack. Your couching thread is then used to tack down the couched thread along the curves of the lines. Both threads are anchored once the desired line is created. VIDEO: Couching Lettering tutorial Fern stitch Fern Stitch makes a nice addition to any florals. I think of it as a series of Y’s made of back stitches. VIDEO: Fern stitch Fishbone stitch Fishbone Stitch is my favorite way to fill leaves. You can use an angle more parallel or perpendicular to the vein of the leaf to give different looks. Go back and forth from the starting stitches at the top of the leaf and working down the sides of the outline. The stitches come up at the top and cross each other mid-leaf. VIDEO: Fishbone stitch Full fishbone stitch tutorial Fly stitch Fly stitch can be used for

Embroidery

Looking like little bulbs of color across a fabric, French knots are a classic embroidery stitch, integral to fine detailing and surface texture. This stitch can be used to apply intricate detail to a design, such as the eyes of a character or the sunny center of a flower.

For an abstract design, the French knot can be used to make polka dots across a fabric. If you want to channel your inner-Georges Seurat, you can even use the French knot to make a pointillistic design in your embroidery. In this type of pattern, many knots of different colors are sewn such that when you look at the design from far away, an image appears.

The versatility and sophistication of the French knot have made it a staple embroidery stitch for centuries. However, it can be tricky to do with
out the proper guidance. Though it may seem impossible to master the technique of French knots, have to fear! This guide will show you how to become a French knot pro in eight simple steps.

Watch the

Beginners Embroidery SAMPLER PATTERN ONLY – Embroidery Pattern – Downloadable – Digital

Beginners Embroidery SAMPLER PATTERN ONLY – Embroidery How To – Simple Embroidery Sampler PATTERN – DIY – Downloadable – Digital – Sewing Love – Cross Stitching Designed by Samantha Claridge – this very easy to follow and simple embroidery sample will get you creating gorgeous pieces in no time! Abstract Sampler pattern (seen in product image) This download does not include stitch instructions, it is only the pattern. If you are interested in learning how to create the stitches used you will want to purchase the option with my stitch guide included. Downloadable Digital Guide Only – its yours in seconds to keep, print out and share! Please feel free to ask any questions and find out more about Samantha Claridge on www.samanthaclaridge.com Beginners Embroidery SAMPLER PATTERN ONLY – Embroidery How To – Simple Embroidery Sampler PATTERN – DIY – Downloadable – Digital – Sewing Love – Cross Stitching

Sewing

learn the basic stitches of embroidery that every beginner stitcher should know. This post shows you step by step photos of stitches to get you started…

DIY

Learning hand embroidery is fun and easy with these 15 essential stitch tutorials. Beginners and experienced stitchers will use them often.

Entre puntadas

How to do simple DIY beginner embroidery with simple hoops and thread

Hand embroidery

Learn 4 ways how to embroider woven flowers. This simple yet beautiful floral motif has become widely popular and you can learn how to do it, too!