How to Hand Sew a Decorative Embroidery Chain Stitch
If you're a passenger on a long road trip or just looking for something to do with your hands while watching the latest episode of Heroes or Drop Dead Diva you might want to take up hand stitching or embroidery.
There are numerous stitches you can learn to use to decorate blankets, pillows, clothing, towels or create a decorative wall hanging.
These simple how to instructions will show you how to hand sew a chain stitch.
Things You'll Need
- Embroidery Floss
- Embroidery Hoop
- Embroidery Needle
- Scissors
- Piece of fabric, clothing, pillow case, blanket etc. that you'd like to embroider
Instructions
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1
Gather your supplies. Decide where on your fabric you'd would like to stitch your French knot and insert the fabric area into your embroidery hoop.
Thread the needle with 3 strands of embroidery floss. Knot the end.
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2
Now insert the needle back into the fabric close to where you came through.
Pass the needle under the fabric the length you'd like one loop of your chain stitch to be and poke the nose of the needle back through your fabric.
Pass the end of the embroider floss under the point of the needle. Keep the end of your embroidery floss tucked below the point of the needle and pull the needle through the fabric forming a loop of your chain.
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3
To make the next loop of your chain, hold the loop you just made flat and pass the needle through it (top to bottom) close to where you just poked through (bottom to top) to form your first loop.
Pass the needle under the fabric the length you'd like the next loop of your chain to be and poke the nose of the needle back through your fabric. Continue as you did in step 2.
Make the chain as long as you like. To secure the finished chain to your fabric just run your needle through the final loop a couple of times.
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Resources
- Photo Credit The Encyclopedia of Needlework, BHG Stitchery and Crafts
