St. Leonettes. For Beginners. Embroidery Tips, Techniques, Stitches.

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Five Basic Stitches
Straight stitch The most basic of stitches can be used for numerous effects, some of which are shown at left. 1. Bring up at A, pull through. 2. Insert down at B, pull through.

Ribbon stitch This stitch makes great leaves or petals, and works only with silk ribbon. 1. Bring up at A, pull through. 2. Lay ribbon flat on fabric and insert needle at B, piercing ribbon and pulling through slowly. Ribbon will curl into B, so don't pull tightly, or effect will be lost. To vary curl, pierce B to right or left of center of ribbon width. Tip: If ribbon appears straight and narrow, make another stitch on top of first one.

Lazy daisy Use for petals or leaves with ribbon, floss, or perle cotton. 1. Bring up at A, pull through. 2. Make loop in direction of other end of stitch and insert at B, a thread or two to side of A. Pull out at C, in direction needle points until loose loop is formed, then stitch back down at D. Note: To prevent ribbon from twisting when it's drawn through fabric after pulling out at C, arrange it around needle so it's flat. Gently hold in place with thumb while sliding needle and ribbon through.

French knots 1. Bring up at A, pull through. Holding ribbon or thread, lay needle on top. 2. Wrap ribbon or thread around needle two to three times. Insert needle at B a thread or two from A. Gently slide wrapped ribbon/thread down needle to rest against fabric, and pull through.

Stem stitch Use this stitch for flower stems and outlining. 1. Bring up at A, pull through. 2. Insert needle at B on stem line. Holding thread below line, pull out at C directly in line with last stitch (not above or below) and 1/8 in. from B, pull through. Continue to end of line, making sure thread is always held below line of stitching.

Five stitches to add to your repertoire

Woven rose This makes a beautiful ribbon flower and is very easy to do. To make this rose, stitch a foundation of five straight stitches, like the spokes of a wheel, in sewing thread that matches the color of your silk ribbon (see drawing at lower left). Thread the needle with the silk ribbon and, working from the center out, bring the needle up at A, and pull through. Weave the ribbon around the spokes by sliding the needle over B, then under C, alternating spokes all around the wheel, without piercing the fabric. Continue weaving until the spokes are full. Pull the ribbon loosely, allowing twists in the ribbon here and there. Bring the needle down at D, pull through, and knot off.


Feather stitch This is the basic stitch used for crazy-quilt embroidery. 1. Bring the needle up at A, pull through, loop the thread to the right. Bring the needle down at B; up at C, leaving the loop under the needle, and pull through. 2. Loop the thread to the left. Bring the needle down at D, up at E, leaving the loop under the needle, and pull through. 3. Repeat.


Fly stitch This is a good stitch to use for leaves on each side of a flower bud. To work, bring the needle up at A, pull through. Loop the ribbon to the right, bring needle down at B, and up at C, with the loop under the needle. Bring the needle down at D and pull through.


Fly stitch fern This stitch is ideal for filling in floral designs, the same way a florist would fill in an arrangement with ferns (if stitched in perle cotton) or sprigs of leaves (if stitched in ribbon). To make this stitch, work from the top of the fern leaf to the bottom. Start with a straight stitch, and bring the needle up at A, and down at B. Bring the needle up at C, loop the thread or ribbon to the right, bring the needle down at D and up at E, leaving the loop under the needle and pull through. Bring the needle down at F and up at G to start the next stitch.


Split stitch This stitch can be worked in a straight line or a curve. To work, bring the needle up at A, pull through. Loosely lay the ribbon flat on the fabric. Bring the needle down at B (about 3/8 in. from A) splitting the ribbon. Bring the needle up, split ribbon at C, pull through. Repeat for desired length.