Chain Stitch and Variations
Chain Stitch * Chain Stitch Fill * Reverse Chain Stitch * Detached Chain Stitch * Detached Chain Stitch Fill * Double Detached Chain Stitch
Chain Stitch creates a lovely textured line and has many variations to play with. Come up and down with the needle at the start of your line at A, leaving a loop. Come back up within the loop at B, a stitch length away, and pull to tighten the loop to desired tautness. Continue, ending the chain with a small stitch tacking down the final loop at C.
Chain stitch fill. Fill a shape with chain stitch using straight, parallel rows (left) or rows that follow the contour of your shape (right). When using straight rows begin with a center line to help establish a consistent stitch direction. When following the contour begin with the outlines to create a crisp edge, and then work towards the center.
Reversed Chain Stitch starts at the “end” of the chain with a small anchor stitch from A to B. Come up through the fabric a stitch length away at C and slip your needle under the anchor stitch (do not pierce the fabric) before coming back down through the same hole. Continue in a chain.
Some people prefer reverse chain stitch over chain stitch. The resulting embroidery work is the same but may vary slightly in in tension due to how the stitches are performed.
Detached Chain Stitch AKA Lazy Daisy is great for leaves and flowers. You can experiment with tension here, giving a thin or more rounded leaf/petal shape.
Come up with your needle at A and go back down the same hole, leaving a loop. Catch that loop at B, a stitch length away and tack down your loop at C. Play with stitch length, and experiment with tension, creating a thin or more rounded shape. Combine multiple detached chain stitches sharing a center point to create a lazy daisy (right).
Detached chain stitch fill. Fill a shape with rows of detached chain stitches. Line the stitch up parallel to each other (top) or create them at variable angles to better fit the shape (bottom).
Double detached chain stitch. Begin by creating the small center detached chain stitch. Come up with your needle at A and go back down the same hole, leaving a loop. Catch that loop at B, a small stitch away, and anchor your loop at C. Repeat, creating a larger detached chain stitch by coming up slightly above the original stitch and tacking just below it. Add a third stitch to create a triple detached chain stitch.
