How to Sew a Chain Stitch

Using chain stitching in embroidery can create intricate patterns.

Many embroidery patterns employ basic chain stitches in straight and curved lines. Chain stitches are common in Crewel embroidery. Learning to sew a basic straight chain stitch enables you to create a variety of patterns such as vines, petals, stems and leaves.

Things You'll Need

• Embroidery hoop
• Fabric
• Embroidery needle
• Embroidery thread
• Thread nippers

Instructions

1. Place the fabric in the embroidery hoop. Pull it taut around the entire hoop. Turn the pattern line toward your body, working each chain stitch in this direction.

2. Push the needle through the cloth from the underneath side of the embroidery piece, through the stitching line. Start at the beginning of the line.

3. Draw the thread through the fabric leaving a 3-inch tail underneath.

4. Form a loop with the thread by pulling the thread around to meet the emerging thread. Hold the loop in place with your thumb.

5. Insert the needle back through the first hole, bringing it up through the fabric aligned in front of the hole, the distance of the chain stitch length. For instance, if the pattern calls for a chain stitch of 1/4-inch, emerge the needle that far from the first hole.

6. Keep the loop under the front of the needle. Hold the loop in place with your thumb. Pull the thread until it forms the chain stitch. Insert the needle directly in front of the loop, bringing the needle back through to the top of the fabric. Pull the thread through replicating this process until completing the chain. Follow the contours of the pattern line to ensure continuity.

7. Finish the end of the chain by weaving the thread tail in and out of the bottom stitching. Use the same process to finish off the beginning tail. This procedure holds the extra thread ends in place.

References

• "The Complete Illustrated Stitch Encyclopedia"; Bookspan; 2004