How to Make a Detached Stitch

Detached stitches can be used to make countless designs in your embroidery project.

The detached stitch is used in embroidery and needlework to make flowers and other curved designs. The stitches can be grouped to form single flowers, flower bunches, fruits, Native American designs and more. The stitch is also known by many other names including the lazy daisy or daisy chain stitch, tall chain stitch, loop or tied loop stitch, picot stitch and knotted knot stitch. The stitch is typically one of the first taught to beginning embroiderers, including children, due to the lack of complexity in completing it.

Instructions

1. Prepare the thread you will be using by dividing the strands as required for the project. Thread the needle and tie the end of the thread to keep the project from unraveling.

2. Bring the needle up from the underside of the fabric and pull tight. Pull the thread over to the side and hold with your thumb. When working in a clockwork pattern, pull the thread and hold with your left thumb. If working counter-clockwise, pull the thread and hold with your right thumb.

3. Insert the needle back into the hole where it came up from originally. Do not push the needle all the way through the fabric.

4. Bring the needle back up through the fabric a short distance away. The distance you need to bring the needle back up at will depend on the size of the flower or design you are making. Roughly, this will be four to six lines away from the original hole. Do not push the needle all the way through the fabric yet.

5. Wrap the thread under the sharp point of the needle and pull the thread tight. Hold the thread with your thumb again.

6. Pull the needle through both points on the fabric until the thread is tight. This will make the loop.

7. Insert the needle through the fabric again directly on the other side of the thread that was under the sharp point of the needle to fasten the loop. Repeat the stitch until the flower or pattern is complete.

References

• Kaneesha: Detatched Chain Stitch
• Needlework Tips & Techniques: Simple Embroidery Stitches for Small Flowers
• In A Minute Ago: Detached Chain Stitch or Lazy Daisy

Resources

• Mary Corbets Needle N Thread; Daisy Stitch Video Tutorial; November 2006
• Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials; Russian Chain Stitch; July 2009