How to Sew a Feather Stitch
The feather stitch creates a decorative accent to a fabric item, typically used to accentuate the lines of a hem or pocket. Appearing in embroidery books as early as the 1880s, feather stitch comes in several varieties and is sometimes referred to as briar stitch. The basic feather stitch is slightly intricate, but you will find it easier with practice, much like any embroidery stitch. A feather stitch can be worked with looped or straight stitches, depending on the outcome you desire.
Instructions
-
-
1
Mark a line on the fabric with an erasable fabric marker where you'd like the feather stitch to be located. The line will become the center of the feather stitch embroidery, so place the line accordingly, making it as long as the desired feather stitching.
-
2
Thread the needle, tying a knot near the end of the thread. Pull the needle and thread through the fabric from the back to the front, at the top of the marked line. Pull the thread through until the knot catches on the back side of the fabric.
-
-
3
Move over 1/4 inch down on the marked line and 1/4 inch to the left of the line. Insert the needle down through the fabric at this point, but do not pull all of the thread through.
-
4
Bring the needle up to the line again, 1/4 inch below the original place the thread was pulled through. Pull the needle up through the fabric, hooking the thread behind the needle. Pull all of the thread through the fabric.
-
5
Continue to make stitches in this manner down the left side of the marked line. At the end of the line, knot the thread on the wrong side of the fabric and cut the thread.
-
6
Thread the needle once again and repeat the same stitching process on the right side of the marked line.
-
7
Erase the marked line on the fabric according to the fabric marker's instructions.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Slant the stitches if you desire by bringing the needle up slightly below the line in Step 5 of the stitch.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
