Stem Stitch and Variations

Stem Stitch * Stem Stitch Fill * Stem Stitch Rose

Stem stitch. Come up at A and down at B, leaving your stitch loose below your guideline as you bring the needle back up at C. Pull the slack from the first stitch, then go back down at D and up at B, keeping that stitch loose below the needle. Continue, going down at E and back up at D. Alternatively, keep the thread above the needle to create a line with a twist in the opposite direction.

Stem stitch fill. Use rows of stem stitch to fill a shape. To fill with straight rows begin with a center line and then fill each half (left). To match the stitch direction to the shape’s contour outline one edge to guide the remaining rows (right).

Stem stitch rose. Begin with a center stitch, such as a French knot, to spiral out from. Come up near the center at A and go down at B, leaving your stitch loose toward the edge of the rose as you bring the needle back up at C. Go down at D, again leaving the stitch loose and coming up at Be for the next stitch. Continue in a spiral toward the rose edges, keeping the tension loose.