Embroidery is a beautiful and mindful hobby, and learning the basic stitches is easy. If you are new to embroidery having a library of different stitches is essential. It'll help you to remember the stitches you have learnt and help you to master new techniques.

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If you are brand new to embroidery and would like some more context in this rich craft, make sure you read our complete how to embroider guide.

If you already have a stitch in mind that you want to know how to do use our handy 'jump to' list below to skip to that part of the article.

If you are simply looking to expand your embroidery knowledge, you'll find a suggested project on each stitch, which will allow you to practice on a free embroidery project right here on Gathered.

21 types of must-know embroidery stitches

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1. Back Stitch Trellis

Worked in backstitch, this needlework stitch is great for filling an area. Try stitching it on a diagonal for a true trellis look.

  1. Stitch a set of parallel lines of backstitch, keeping the stitch length as consistent as possible.
  2. Stitch another set of parallel lines of backstitch, perpendicular to the first, and with the ends of the embroidery stitches intersecting.
Embroidery stitches for beginners backstitch trellis

2. Blanket Stitch (surface)

This embroidery stitch is fun for decorative stitching or appliqué. Try to keep the spacing and stitch height consistent... or change it up to create a pattern!

  1. Come up at point 1.
  2. Go down at point 2 and come back up at point 3, keeping the needle over the working thread.
  3. Pull the thread to create a right angle.

How to do a blanket stitch

Embroidery stitches for beginners blanket stitch

3. Bullion Knot

They are tricky at first, but with a little practice, bullion knots are useful for creating texture and beautiful flowers in your embroidery.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2 and back up at point 1, keeping the needle through the fabric.
  2. Wrap the needle until the wrapping is as long as the space between points 1 and 2. If you don’t want the knot to lay flat against the fabric, wrap it a little more.
  3. Holding the wrapping with your non-dominant hand, carefully pull the needle through the wrapped thread.
  4. Go down at point 2 and pull the thread until the stitch lays well.

How to do Bullion knots

Embroidery stitches for beginners bullion knot

4. Chain Stitch

This simple method of chain stitching is worked in reverse. It’s a great embroidery stitch for adding texture to your projects.

  1. Make a small straight embroidery stitch.
  2. Come up at point 1, slide the needle under the small straight stitch, and then go down at point 1.
  3. Come up at point 2, slide the needle under the previous stitch, and then go down at point 2.

How to do chain stitch

Embroidery stitches for beginners chain stitch

5. Colonial Knot

If you find French knots tricky then try this alternative for creating eyes and other dotted details.

  1. Come up at point 1, form a backward C with the thread and place your needle over the C.
  2. Wrap the thread over and then under the point of the needle.
  3. While holding the working thread taut, bring the needle down at point 2 (next to point 1, but not the same hole) and pull slowly until the knot is formed.

How to do colonial knots

Embroidery stitches for beginners colonial stitch

6. French Knot Stitch

This is an embroidery stitch that everyone should learn because it’s so useful. The secret is to hold the working thread taut while you pull it through.

  1. Come up at point 1, then wrap the thread around the needle twice.
  2. Holding the working thread with your non-dominant hand, bring the needle down at point 2 (close to point 1, but not the same hole).
  3. Pull slowly until the knot is formed.

How to do French knots

Embroidery stitches for beginners french knots

7. Fly Stitch

This simple stitch can be worked as individual stitches or in a line.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2, leaving the thread loose.
  2. Come up at point 3, catching the loop of thread, then pull to form a ‘V’.
  3. Go down at point 4.
Embroidery stitches for beginners fly stitch tutorial

8. Ladder Stitch

This embroidery stitch is useful for stitching seam openings closed as it creates a nearly invisible line of stitching! Use this version when the two sides of the seam are held together.

  1. Bring the needle out about 0.5mm below the fold on the inside of one side of the seam.
  2. On the opposite side of the seam, directly across from where the thread came out, go in at point 1 and back out at point 2.
  3. Go in at point 3 and back out at point 4.
  4. Work back and forth on each side of the seam, stitching about .5mm below the fold.
  5. Every few stitches, gently pull the thread to tighten the seam.
Embroidery stitches for beginners ladder stitch
Embroidery stitches for beginners ladder stitch 2

9. Lazy Daisy

Usually used for flower petals, this stitch is also ideal for embroidering tiny seeds.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go back down at point 1, leaving a small loop.
  2. Come up through the loop at point 2, then go down at point 3 (next to point 2, but not the same hole).

How to do lazy daisy stitch

Embroidery stitches for beginners lazy daisy

Try an embroidery kit for beginners

A great way to get yourself familiar with embroidery is by trying a kit! An embroidery kit for beginners contains everything you need, and often has lots of tips and tricks for beginners.

embroidery kits for beginners, cat design

10. Picot Stitch

A picot stitch is a perfect choice to create dimensional flowers, leaves, feathers, and more in your embroidery. The base is anchored to the fabric, but the rest of the stitch is woven and free from the material.

  1. Place a sewing pin with a large head vertically through the fabric.
  2. Bring the needle up at point 1.
  3. Bring the working thread behind the head of the pin and go back down at point 2.
  4. Come back up at point 3 next to the pin and as centred between points 1 and 2 as possible.
  5. Bring the working thread behind the head of the pin then weave the needle under, over, and under the three vertical threads.
  6. Push the thread up to the top.
  7. Now from the side where the working thread comes out, weave the needle over, under, and over the vertical threads.
  8. Repeat, weaving back and forth, snugging the thread to the top each time.
  9. When the shape is filled, bring the needle to the back of the fabric.
Embroidery stitches for beginners picot stitch

11. Pistil Stitch

Similar to a French knot, this stitch resembles the centre of a flower. You can vary the length, but be careful not to make them too long.

  1. Come up at point 1, then wrap the thread around the needle two times.
  2. Holding the working thread with your non-dominant hand, bring the needle down at point 2.
  3. Keep the wrapped thread taut around the needle and close to the fabric, then pull slowly until the knot is formed.
Embroidery stitches for beginners pistil stitch

12. Rose Stitch

  1. Start with three small parallel stitches to form the centre.
  2. Use stem stitch around the centre, working in circles and increasing the stitch length until the rose reaches the desired size.
  3. Experiment using materials such as yarn or ribbon.
Embroidery stitches for beginners rose stitch

13. Satin Stitch

When you want to fill an area with a smooth finish, this stitch is the ideal choice. It’s best worked in small areas, because if the stitches are too long, they may snag.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2.
  2. Come up at point 3, then go down at point 4.
  3. Repeat. Always work the stitches across the area you’re filling, coming up on the opposite side where your needle went down.

How to do Satin stitch

Embroidery stitches for beginners satin stitch

14. Scallop Stitch

Similar to a lazy daisy, the scallop stitch makes it easy to add smiles to little stitched creatures.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2, leaving the thread loose.
  2. Come up at point 3, catching the loop of the thread.
  3. Then go down at point 4 (next to point 3, but not the same hole).
Embroidery stitches for beginners scallop stitch

15. Split Backstitch

A great embroidery stitch for working outlines. When you make the ‘split’ try to go through the fibres, and not just in between the strands of embroidery thread.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2.
  2. Come up at point 3, splitting the previous stitch, then go down at point 4.
  3. Repeat.
Embroidery stitches for beginners split stitch

Try machine embroidery

If you are looking to dip your toe into the world of machine embroidery, check out our detailed guide to beginner embroidery machines.

embroidery machines

16. Stem Stitch

Although it can take some practice, stem stitch is great for textured outlines.

  1. Come up from the back at point 1, then go down at point 2.
  2. Before pulling the stitch close to the fabric, come up at point 3 with the loose thread below the needle.
  3. Pull the thread taut, then repeat.
  4. Come up from the back at point 1, then go down at point 2.
  5. Before pulling the stitch close to the fabric, come up at point 3 with the loose thread below the needle.
  6. Pull the thread taut, then repeat.

How to do stem stitch

Embroidery stitches for beginners stem stitch

17. Straight Stitch

The simplest of stitches, the straight stitch can be grouped together or used alone.

  1. Come up at point 1, then go down at point 2.
  2. Repeat.
Embroidery stitches for beginners straight stitch

18. Whipped Backstitch

This is a great way to embellish a line of backstitch, adding thickness, texture, or some extra colour.

  1. Start with a line of backstitch.
  2. Come up at point 1.
  3. Slide the needle under the first backstitch from the top down.
  4. Slide the needle under the next stitch from the top down. Repeat.
  5. Bring the needle down at point 2 when you reach the end of the line of backstitch.
Embroidery stitches for beginners whipped backstitch

19. Whipped Spider Web

  1. True to its name, this stitch does look like a spider web, but it also makes wonderful flower shapes.
  2. Start with a base of four crossed stitches, creating eight spokes.
  3. Come up close to the centre, between two spokes.
  4. Slide the needle under spokes 1 and 2 without going through the fabric.
  5. Bring the needle over spoke 2, then slide the needle under spokes 2 and 3.
  6. Continue around all of the spokes several times until the web is filled.
Embroidery stitches for beginners whipped spider web stitch

20. Woven Wheel Stitch

This woven embroidery stitch is easy to work with and creates stunning flowers that stand out from the material. It is usually started with five spokes but can be worked with more, as long as there is an odd number of spokes. For a more dimensional stitch pack the weaving tight. For a more flat and open stitch, keep the woven thread looser.

  1. Using straight stitches of even length, form five spokes of the woven wheel. It should look a bit like a star.
  2. Bring the needle up close to the centre of the wheel.
  3. Pass the needle over one spoke and under the next.
  4. Pull the thread through so it is close to the centre.
  5. Pass the needle over the next spoke and under the one after that.
  6. Repeat, weaving the needle over and under the spokes around the wheel.
  7. When the wheel is full, bring the needle to the back of the fabric.
Woven_Wheel_Stitch_DIY_Brooches_step6

21. Split Stitch

Split Stitch, as the name suggests, involves splitting the thread of the previous stitch and creates a similar appearance to that of Chain Stitch.

It’s brilliant for beginners to learn as it’s so simple and versatile – you can use it to outline a design or to fill an area with texture when you work it in dense rows.

How to do split stitch

split stitch banner

Put your new embroidery stitches skills to the test

As you may have noticed, we have assigned each stitch its own 'recommended project'. Each one is a free embroidery project which will help you to practice your new stitch!

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Keep on practising your embroidery stitches

Once you've mastered the basic stitches, you'll be able to take on a wide range of projects! If you want to keep on expanding your knowledge, try to choose a project with a stitch which is new to you. Try these easy embroidery patterns.

Authors

Mollie JohansonEmbroidery Designer

Mollie is the author of Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small. She lives near Chicago and is happiest with a cup of coffee and some stitching. She specializes in designing exceedingly cute, contemporary embroidery and cross stitch projects with a kawaii influence. Her work has been featured on The Spruce Crafts and in books and magazines including Simply Sewing Magazine, Cross Stitch Crazy and Mollie Makes. She co-hosts the Very Serious Crafts Podcast with Haley Pierson-Cox and Heidi Gustad. Find her on Instagram @molliejohanson

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