Stitches

Main Embroidery Stitches?

What are the main most important embroidery stitches? There are so many in this book I have, and I really don't know which are the ones that I should learn first.

Public Comments

1. Learn the running stitch, the back stitch, the stem stitch (Or crewel stitch) the lazy-daisy, blanket stitch, the french knot and the cross stitch first. Many stitches are variations on the basic hand and needle movements of these stitches. Once you learn these simple needle movements you can start the satin stitch (same movement as backstitch) chain stitch (same movements as lazy-daisy), crewel filling stitch (same movement as the stem stitch) Feather stitch (same movements as chain and lazy daisy). Bullion knot (a variation of the french knot) and needlepoint or tent stitch (Half a cross stitch) Advanced stitches are combinations of several basic stitches. Wheat sheaf is a combination of straight stitches. Wheat ear stitch is chain and back stitches. Another wheat ear stitch is a combination of chain, feather and straight stitch. Black and red work is almost all backstitch and cross stitches. Crewel work is all stem stitch worked very closely. There are many variation of blanket stitch used to outline, fill and as a decorative edging on hems. There are many variations on the basic stitches and while they look complex, if the basic needle movements are already known, they are much easier. practice practice practice, make samples of every new stitch and don't get discouraged if the don't look like the pictures at first. You'll improve the more you stitch.
2. Concentrate on the easier stitches as the first answer says. Stem,chain,long,blanket. When I first started I had a spare piece of material and used it as a sampler to learn a new stitch before I tried it on the embroidery itself. Some stitches look complicated but they're not. Easy stitches can be just as effective as the more complex ones. Although I still embroider I tend to cross stitch more than anything now I find it more versatile and more relaxing.