How to Satin Stitch Around a Star
Embroidery employs a wide variety of stitching styles, such as the back stitch and the split stitch. These two styles are some of the most common types of stitches used to outline items such as stars. For designs that are a little less conventional, some embroidery artists use the satin stitch. This style of straight stitch will undoubtedly add a small amount of width to the shape of the star but can also be used to add a bold border around the star design.
Instructions
-
-
1
Sketch a line around the star you would like to satin stitch around using a pencil. The line should fall outside of the perimeter of the star by about 1/8 of an inch and follow evenly along the entire outside of the star. If the star is on the larger scale, such as a foot or so wide, you may make a perimeter of about 3/8 of an inch.
-
2
Cut a piece of embroidery thread about two feet long. Embroidery thread comes in a bundle of six smaller threads. Separate the larger bundle into two groups of three threads each. Thread one bundle of three small threads into the embroidery thread, pulling about five inches of the length of the thread through the needle. Make a knot on the other end of the thread.
-
-
3
Approach creating the outline of the star with the satin stitch, by stitching each of the ten sides of the star one by one. Start your satin stitch on the end of one side of the star. Start the stitch on the inner corner of the star, rather than the point. Push the needle through the cloth along the star's outline. Push the embroidery needle through the wrong side of the cloth so that the needle emerges on the right side. Pull the thread all the way through the needle hole until the thread pulls taut.
-
4
Push the needle down through the right side of the cloth and through the line sketched in Step 1 directly across from the stitch made in Step 3, so that the embroidery thread forms a perpendicular line between the star's line and the sketched line. Pull the thread taut.
-
5
Push the needle back through the back of the cloth and up to the right side of the cloth, placing the stitch this time directly next to the stitch made in Step 3, so there is virtually no space between the two stitches. Pull the stitch taut. Push the needle down through the cloth and pull through the back of the cloth, this time making a stitch which sits directly next to the stitch made in Step 4.
-
6
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you reach the end of the star's side. Remember to keep your satin stitch directly perpendicular to both the star's line as well as the sketched line. Once you have finished the side, cut off the excess thread leaving about two inches of thread at the back. Tie a double, square knot with the loose ends and cut off any extra thread left over from the knot.
-
7
Repeat Steps 3 through 6 on the remaining nine sides of the star so that all ten sides have a solid embroidered line along them. Around the corners and points of the star, stitches will overlap.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Work slowly and carefully, making the smallest possible stitches.
Use this method on a star that is at least two inches wide.
You can also employ this method on a seven or nine-pointed star.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
