What Hand Embroidery Stitches Are Good For Stems and Branches?
- Melissa Galbraith
- Jun 15
- 6 min read
Creating nature out of a needle and thread can sometimes be challenging. Even if you've been stitching for a while it can be hard to know what stitches to use where.
When I'm embroidering, I often think in textures. I like to look at realistic pictures for reference and then pick stitches that create a similar texture to the picture. This is obviously easier said than done, and you need to be familiar with a wide variety of stitches to even know what your options are. So let me help you!
These are 6 of my go-to hand embroidery stitches to create stems and branches. Learn how to create these stitches with the step-by-step tutorials below.
6 Hand Embroidery Stitches for Stems and Branches
Straight Stitch
The straight stitch is exactly what it sounds like. A single stitch that creates a straight line. This can be good for things like short branches on trees.
For this stitch, create a single standalone stitch where the thread comes up and goes back down through the fabric, creating a straight line.
Photo step-by-step tutorial and video.
Stem Stitch
The stem stitch looks like a coiled rope. It can be great for plant stems and curved outlines.
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.
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. This stitch can be used for stem lines, thin branches, or filling in areas to create thicker branches.
Begin by pulling the needle and thread up through the fabric ~1/8 to 1/4 inch into the line from the start.
Then bring the needle back down to the beginning of the line, creating 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.
Reverse Chain or Chain Stitch
While the reverse chain and chain stitch are two separate stitches, they give you the same results: a line that looks like a chain link. Some people prefer one over the other (I'm firmly in the reverse chain stitch camp.) This stitch can be great for creating thicker stem lines or filling in spaces to create thicker branches.
Reverse Chain
Start by making a small back stitch at the beginning of the line.
Next, bring the needle and thread up through the fabric a short distance away from the end of the back stitch stitch.
Pass the needle under the back stitch. Pull the thread all the way through and bring your needle back down where you started your stitch, making a small chain link.
Leave another space, by bringing the needle and thread up through the fabric a short distance away from the end of the link that was just created.
Slide the needle underneath both strands of that link. Pull the thread all the way through and bring your needle back down where you started your stitch, making the next link in the chain.
Repeat adding links for entire length of line.
Chain Stitch
Start by bringing the needle up from the back of the fabric to the front at the point the chain stitch starts.
Next, hold the thread in direction the chain will go, then 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 your fabric.
From the back side of the fabric, space out a stitches length (~ 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 on the front of the fabric.
Next, gently tug the thread so that the loop is flush with the fabric. This is now the first link in the chain stitch.
Now add more chains to the row. For the next chain, hold the thread in the direction the chain will go and then bring the needle back down 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. This will be the second link in the chain stitch.
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 to keep the chain links securely in place.
Feather Stitch
The feather stitch is V shaped stitches that are connected at the bottom point. This stitch can be great for more decorative or whimsical stems and branches.
To start, bring the needle up from the back of the fabric at the top corner of the first V.
Hold the thread towards the bottom point of the V and then bring the needle back down into the fabric at the other top point of the V.
Gently tug the thread to make a U shape of thread on the front of the fabric.
Next, bring the needle up inside the U of thread at the bottom point of the V.
Gently tug the thread so that the U becomes a V that is flush with the fabric.
Now make the next V shape. The bottom point of the first V is the top corner of the next feather stitch. Make your next V to either the right of left of the first V.
When you’ve stitched your desired number of Vs, bring the needle down at the bottom point of the last V. This should go around the thread, making a short taking stitch to hold the V in place.
Long and Short Satin Stitch
The long and short satin stitch is a good filler stitch and creates a smooth appearance for filling in larger spaces. The long and short satin stitch is a great way to fill in large areas with color or blend colors.
Take your needle and thread and create one satin stitch.
Bring the needle up again just next to the opposite side of the initial stitch and make one stitch that is shorter or longer than the previous stitch. Keep the stitches close to one another, and work in rows as required to fill the design.
After the first row is completed, fill in the next section. Depending upon how big the space being filled is, the top and bottom of the next row might vary in length, or it might look like the opposite of the previous section.
When starting the next section (teal stitches in the sample above), start the stitch away from the previous stitches and bring the needle down into the previous stitch, so that the stitches overlap slightly. this will help the threads to blend and for the stitcher to have more control of where the stitches are being placed.
Looking for more ways to create texture in your embroidery?
Check out my book How to Create Texture and Pattern! This hand embroidery book is an excellent reference guide. Great for beginners and advanced stitchers alike, How to Embroider Texture and Pattern breaks down materials, stitches, techniques, and projects in an easy to understand format with tons of photos.
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