Stitch Guide

Long and Short Stitch

Work alternate Long and Short Stitches for the first row – the Short Stitches should be half the length of the Long Stitches.

Bring the needle up at 1, down at 2, up at 3, down at 4 and so on. Subsequent rows are worked with the stitches all the same length, equal to the Long Stitches in the first row.

Pistil Stitch

This is a variant of a French Knot which has a tail. Bring the needle up at 1. Holding the thread with one hand, twist the needle around the thread twice. Insert the point of the needle into the fabric at 2, where you want the knot positioned, pull the thread to tighten the knot, then push the needle slowly through the fabric.

Satin Stitch

Bring the needle up at 1, down at 2 and up at 3, working stitches close together. Keep stitching in this way, under and over, so that the back of the work looks the same as the front. To maintain an even tension, always take the needle out at the back, then back in at the front in two steps rather than in and out in one motion.

Padded Satin Stitch

Padded Satin Stitch gives a more raised appearance than Satin Stitch. First, fill the area with stitching such as Chain Stitch, Seed Stitch, Straight Stitch or Running Stitch. Next, work Satin Stitch over the area to cover the padding stitches in the usual way. For an even more raised look, add another layer of Satin Stitch on top.

Running Stitch

This is a very versatile outline stitch which can also be used beneath other stitches to add a layer of padding. Running Stitches should all be of the same length. Bring the needle up at 1, down at 2, up at 3 and so on. The spaces between the stitches are usually the same length as the stitches themselves, but you can vary this.

Split Stitch

Bring the needle up at 1, down at 2 and up at 3, but don’t pull it all the way through the fabric. Pull the needle up through the centre of the thread to split it, then carry on pulling it up through the fabric and the thread. Work the whole outline in this way, making sure you always split the thread in the centre to form even stitches.