What Are The Most Common Embroidery Stitches?
- Melissa Galbraith
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 26
One of the things I often get asked in my embroidery workshops is, "Can you teach me all the embroidery stitches?" To which in internally chuckle before sharing that there are hundreds of embroidery stitches, some of which I don't even know. With my intro workshops I try to go over a mix of the basics. These are common hand embroidery stitches you'll most likely find in beginner embroidery patterns and that are used most frequently in general embroidery.
Try stitching these commonly used embroidery stitches. You'll find step-by-step instructions for each stitch below. Want to join me for an in-person hands-on embroidery workshop? Find a class and get your tickets.
9 Common Embroidery Stitches
Running Stitch
The running stitch is one of the most basic stitches to create a dashed line.
To start, bring the needle up through the fabric.
Make a short stitch forward.
Leave a space away from the first stitch and make a second stitch.
Stitches can be made individually or the needle can be woven in and out of the fabric then pulled through to create multiple running stitches at once.
Back Stitch
The back stitch creates a solid line made of short dashes. This stitch is very versatile and is great for outlining and filling in sections. If used as a fill stitch, offset the stitch rows like a brick wall.
Begin by pulling the needle and thread up through the fabric about ¼ an inch away from the start of the line.
Bring the needle back down at the beginning of the line, filling in the space.
From underneath, space the needle out the length of your desired stitch (~1/4 inch or less), pull the needle up through the fabric.
Then bring the needle back down through the fabric at the end of the previous stitch.
Repeat until the line is created.
Satin Stitch
The satin stitch is a good filler stitch and creates a smooth appearance.
Bring the needle up through the fabric on one side of the shape being filled.
Then bring the needle down on the opposite side, creating a straight stitch.
Next, bring the needle back up through the fabric right next to the start of the previous stitch and repeat, continuing to fill in the space. Stitches should be close together, like they’re hugging to avoid gaps and evenly fill the area.
Straight Stitch
The straight stitch is one of the most basic stitches and creates a straight line that can vary in length.
Bring the needle up at the bottom of the line.
Then bring the needle down at the top of the line, creating a straight line.
Chain Stitch
The chain stitch can be used for lines or filling spaces. It creates a chain-like line.
Start by bringing your needle up through the fabric at the start of the line.
Next, hold the thread in direction of the chain and bring the needle back down through the fabric in the same spot it previously came up. This should make a loop of thread on the front of the fabric.
From the back side of the fabric, space out a stitches length (about 1/4 of an inch). Then bring the needle back up through the fabric. The needle should be along the line of the chain row being stitched and in between the loop of thread.
Next, gently tug the thread so that the loop is flush with the fabric. This is the first link in the chain stitch row.
Now add more chains to the row. For the next chain, hold the thread in the direction of the row and bring the needle through the fabric inside the previous chain link.
Next, from underneath the fabric, space out a stitches length and bring the needle up through the fabric and the loop of thread along the path of the chain stitch row. This will be the second link in the chain stitch row.
Continue adding chains to the row until it is the desired length.
To end the chain stitch row, stitch the last chain stitch. Then bring the needle back through the fabric on the outer edge of the last chain stitch. This will add a short straight stitch at the end of the line to keep the chain links securely in place.
Split Back Stitch
The split back stitch makes a tight braid-like stitch. Just like the back stitch, the split back stitch leaves a space that is filled in by creating a backwards stitch.
Begin by pulling the needle and thread up through the fabric a stitch’s length away from where the first stitch starts.
Then bring the needle back down to the beginning of the first stitch.
Leave a space away from the stitch that was just created (~1/8 to 1/4 inch) and bring the needle back up through the fabric.
Next, bring the needle back down through the middle of the previous stitch, splitting the strands of the stitch apart.
Repeat until the split back stitch line is created.
Stem Stitch
The stem stitch looks like a coiled rope.
To start, bring the needle up through the fabric at the start of the line.
Go back down through the fabric about ¼ an inch away along the line. Do not tug the thread entirely flush with the fabric.
Next, bring the needle back up through the about halfway between the two stitches. Then tug the thread flush with the fabric.
Now, repeat. Bring the needle back down through the fabric about ¼ and inch away along the line, come up between the two points, and tug the thread flush.
Be sure to hold the thread off to the same side every time so that the stem stitch coils around itself.
French Knot
French knots are a decorative knot on the front of the fabric. They're great for adding detail and texture.
To start, bring the needle up through the fabric.
Next, hold the needle in your dominant hand and use your other hand to wrap the thread taught around the needle two or three times. The more thread wrap around the needle, the bigger the knot will be.
Keeping the thread tightly wrapped around the needle, pass the needle back through the fabric next to where it previously came up through the fabric.
Pull tightly until the thread is knotted on the front. It is important to keep the thread taught throughout this process, otherwise the French knot will end up with extra threads and loops.
Lazy Daisy/ Detached Chain Stitch
The detached chain stitch/lazy daisy stitch resembles a tear drop and if often used for flower petals.
To start, bring the needle up through the fabric.
Hold the thread towards the loop of the tear drop and bring the needle back down through the fabric in the same place it just came up.
Gently pull the thread until a small loop forms on the front of the fabric.
Next bring the needle up from the back of the fabric to the front, going through the loop. Wherever the needle comes up through the loop will be the top of the chain. Be sure the loop isn’t twisted.
Then gently pull the thread through so that a small loop is formed on the front of the fabric.
To secure the detached chain stitch, bring the needle down, through the fabric at the top outer edge of the loop. This creates a single detached chain stitch.
Looking for more embroidery stitches and resources?
Try my beginner hand embroidery kits! These kits are designed to be stitch samplers you'll want to hang on your walls. Each kit uses a handful of embroidery stitches for you to learn something new with each design.
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