How to Embroider a Vine Stitch

The vine stitch can be mixed with other types of embroidery stitches.

After mastering simple stitches such as the split stitch, basckstitch and stem stitch, embroiderers can try out the vine stitch. Also called a featherstitch, the vine stitch looks like a vine crawling up a wall and it also resembles a bird feather. It is most often found on crazy quilts because of its free-flowing look, and it can also add a delicate touch to children's clothes and tea towels. Because of its botanical look, it fits in well with floral patterns. Embroidery involves highly personal styles, and several techniques for the vine stitch are in practice. Practicing the basics allows you to discover your own flourishes.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Embroidery hoop
• Needle
• Embroidery floss
• Scissors
• Quilt maker or fabric pen (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the canvas for your stitch. Place the fabric in your hoop, thread your needle with standard embroidery floss, and snip the end of the floss with scissors. Following a marked pattern makes the vine stitch much easier to master. To start out, mark four parallel lines with a quilt marker or with another fabric marker. For the remaining instructions, the lines, from left to right, will be indicated as 1, 2, 3, and 4.

2. Knot the end of the floss and bring the needle from the back of the fabric through line 1. Anywhere along the line is fine, but starting near the top of the line gives you more room to extend the stitch below.

3. Enter the fabric through line 3, parallel to the exit point on line 1. Do not pull the stitch taut.

4. Exit the fabric on line 2, slightly below the points on lines 1 and 3. Now pull the thread taut, crossing the needle over the thread connecting lines 1 and 3. The effect will be a U-shape between lines 1 and 3, being held down by the thread exiting line 2.

5. Enter the fabric at line 4, parallel to the exit on line 2. As before, do not pull the thread taut. Instead, exit the fabric on line 3 below the two points, pulling the thread taut as you cross the needle over the new u-shape.

6. Cross back over to enter the fabric at line 1, parallel to the exit point on line 3. In this manner, you will cross back and forth, using all four lines. The effect will be a series of u-shapes held in place by the next stitch.

7. To finish, make a small stitch over the center of the final u-shape and enter the fabric. Snip the end of the floss and knot to secure.

Tips & Warnings

• The appearance of a vine stitch can vary, based on the distance between guide lines and the length of stitches. Experiment on scrap fabric to discover different looks.

References

• Stitch School: Feather Stitch
• Sublime Stitching; Jenny Hart; 2006