How to Stitch a Berwick Stitch

The Berwick stitch, also known as the Looped Edge stitch, is a simpler version of the buttonhole stitch. Berwick stitches form a line of knots with spokes coming up to meet at another imaginary line. The Berwick stitch is often used for borders, especially around curves. The following directions work the stitch with the spokes pointing up, but it may be stitched in another direction.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Tapestry needle
• Thread
• Scissors

1. Thread the tapestry needle and tie a small knot at the end of the working thread to make sure that the first stitch will be secured once you begin stitching.

2. Determine where you want your row of Berwick stitches to be. Berwick stitches are worked on two horizontal and parallel imaginary lines in a left to right direction.

3. Come up through the fabric with threaded needle on the left end of the lower imaginary line.

4. Insert the needle directly above on the top imaginary line only partially and come back down with the needle, coming back up through the fabric on the lower imaginary line. You should now have your needle going in on the top imaginary line and coming out on the imaginary bottom line.

5. Wrap the thread around the point of the needle.

6. Pull the needle through the fabric, forming a loop with the wrapped thread as you do so.

7. Make sure the knot is tight before moving on to the next stitch. Keep stitching your row of Berwick stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the length of the spokes and spacing of the spokes on a row of Berwick stitches to add a completely new look to your next embroidery project.