Embroidery stitches

35 embroidery stitches. Hand embroidery stitches by family (line, filling, knot, detached, couching, edging, composite) with difficulty, what each is used for and how it is worked. Click a name for its full record.

Embroidery stitches35 Embroidery threads16 Embroidery needles23 Embroidery fabrics17 Hoop sizes10

35 of 35 embroidery stitches

Stitch	Family	Difficulty	Thread use (x)
Running stitch	line	beginner	1.3
Whipped running stitch	line	easy	2.8
Holbein stitch (double running)	line	easy	2.2
Back stitch	line	beginner	2.2
Whipped back stitch	line	easy	3.6
Pekinese stitch	line	intermediate	4.6
Stem stitch	line	beginner	2.6
Outline stitch	line	easy	2.6
Split stitch	line	easy	2.6
Chain stitch	line	beginner	4.5
Heavy chain stitch	line	intermediate	6
Detached chain (lazy daisy)	detached	beginner	4.5
Fly stitch	detached	easy	3
Feather stitch	line	easy	4
Herringbone stitch	line	easy	4.5
Chevron stitch	line	intermediate	4.2
Cretan stitch	filling	intermediate	18
Satin stitch	filling	easy	22
Padded satin stitch	filling	intermediate	34
Long and short stitch	filling	advanced	26
Fishbone stitch	filling	intermediate	24
Seed stitch	filling	beginner	8
Darning stitch (weave filling)	filling	easy	14
Trellis (lattice) couching	couching	intermediate	12
Couching	couching	easy	2.4
Bokhara couching	couching	intermediate	24
French knot	knot	easy	5
Colonial knot	knot	intermediate	5.5
Pistil stitch	knot	easy	4
Bullion knot	knot	advanced	8
Woven wheel (woven spider web)	composite	easy	30
Whipped wheel (ribbed spider web)	composite	easy	30
Blanket stitch	edging	beginner	4
Buttonhole stitch	edging	easy	6.5
Cross stitch	filling	beginner	20

Thread use: Line, knot, detached, couching, edging and composite stitches: cm of thread per cm of stitched line. Filling stitches: cm of thread per square cm of solid cover with all six strands (halve the strands and the figure doubles). Working figures used by the thread length estimator; they include the thread on the back but not starts and ends. Related stitches: Stitches built from this one, or worked the same way.Updated 2 Oct 2026