Stitch dictionary

How to work the hand-embroidery stitches Hoopsake patterns use, one step at a time. Every picture is drawn by our own stitch renderer, with the needle points numbered in order, and every stitch has diagrams for right- and left-handed stitchers.

The stitches

• Backstitch: A solid line of short, even stitches, each worked backwards to meet the end of the one before. (Line stitch)
• Chain stitch: A line of linked loops, each held down by the next. (Line stitch)
• Couching: A thick, textured or metallic thread laid along the line and held down by small stitches in a second, usually finer, thread. (Couched stitch)
• French knot: A small, raised knot made by wrapping the thread round the needle and taking it back down beside where it came up. (Detached stitch)
• Long and short stitch: Rows of staggered straight stitches, each row coming up into the one before, so a shape fills smoothly and colours blend from one shade to the next. (Filling stitch)
• Running stitch: The simplest line stitch: even stitches with even gaps between them, giving a light, dashed line. (Line stitch)
• Satin stitch: Straight stitches laid side by side across a shape, edge to edge, so they cover it with smooth, shiny thread. (Filling stitch)
• Split stitch: A fine, smooth line in which each stitch comes up through the middle of the one before, splitting its strands. (Line stitch)
• Stem stitch: A line of overlapping, slightly slanted stitches that twist together into a smooth rope. (Line stitch)
• Whipped backstitch: A line of backstitch wrapped with a second thread that passes under each stitch without entering the fabric. (Line stitch)

Side by side

• Stem stitch vs split stitch
• Satin stitch vs long and short stitch

A to Z

• Back stitch: see Backstitch
• Backstitch
• Chain stitch
• Couching
• Couching stitch: see Couching
• Crewel stitch: see Stem stitch
• Damask stitch: see Satin stitch
• Darning stitch: see Running stitch
• Flat stitch: see Satin stitch
• French dot: see French knot
• French knot
• Kensington outline stitch: see Split stitch
• Knotted stitch: see French knot
• Laid work: see Couching
• Long and short stitch
• Long stitch: see Satin stitch
• Needle painting: see Long and short stitch
• Quilting stitch: see Running stitch
• Running stitch
• Satin stitch
• Shading stitch: see Long and short stitch
• Silk shading: see Long and short stitch
• South Kensington stitch: see Stem stitch
• Split stitch
• Stalk stitch: see Stem stitch
• Stem stitch
• Tambour stitch: see Chain stitch
• Twisted knot stitch: see French knot
• Whipped back stitch: see Whipped backstitch
• Whipped backstitch