Types of Embroidery Stitches

A stitch is defined as the periodic movement of a sewing needle from the back of the fabric to the front side and then back again. The thread stroke formed at the front side of the fabric is also known as a stitch. Embroidery patterns are formed by practicing many embroidery stitches in the same or different style, by following a counting chart on paper or even by working freehand.

There are two ways to do embroidery stitches efficiently and neatly: hand-sewing method and stab or maggam work. In the hand-sewing method, the needle is inserted into the fabric, brought to the surface of the fabric and the thread is pulled through. It can be performed by using an embroidery frame or free-hand. The frame makes the work simpler and helps in inserting the needle without stretching the fabric too much. The stab method is more common in India and is also known as 'Aari' work. It is like a chain stitch in which the needle is put into the cloth at an angle of 90 degrees and then the thread is pulled through. It can also be performed using a frame or a hoop.

Types of Stitches in Embroidery

Embroidery uses different variations of stitches. Each stitch has a particular name to help identify it. The stitches are generally simple to execute, however, when combined together the results can be unique and complex.

• Back stitch: is commonly used to draft an area of a design. It works along one side of a square or diagonally across the square in an encircling motion. These stitches are normally worked last with a finer thread. Stem stitch, split stitch and crewel stitch are some examples of a back stitch.
• Buttonhole stitch: or blanket stitch, holds the loop of the thread on the surface of the cloth. In this, the needle doesn't return to the actual hole to pass back through the cloth. The stitches are tightly packed which prevent the raveling of the woven fabric. It forms the basis for a varieties of needle lace. Crossed buttonhole stitch, closed buttonhole stitch and tailor's buttonhole stitch, are some common examples of the buttonhole stitch.
• Straight stitch: passes through the fabric in a simple up and down motion, in which the needle is brought through the fabric at one end and returned from the wrong side at the opposite end of the stitch. The thread has to be pulled carefully, so that it shouldn't pucker or distort the work. Simple satin stitch, Algerian eye stitch, fern stitch, running or blasting stitch, are some popular types of straight stitches.
• Chain stitch: is the easiest of all the looped stitches, in which the needle is brought through the fabric at one end of the stitch and is inserted back into the fabric at the same point. Then, again the needle is brought back up at the polar end of the stitch. To complete and secure the row, the needle is taken to the wrong side over the loop from where it came through. Lazy daisy stitch, Spanish chain or zig-zag chain, are some examples of the chain stitch.
• Cross stitch: is done by forming a line of diagonal stitches in one direction by using the wrap and weft of the fabric and while coming back crossing the diagonal in the opposite direction, forming an 'x'. Breton stitch, sprat's head stitch and herringbone stitch are some types of the cross stitch.

These were just few out of the many different types of embroidery stitches. Stitches are used for basic sewing or decorative purposes. By slightly altering the stitching style, a completely different look can be achieved.