the right-handed

embroiderer’s
companion
Y V E T T E S TA N T O N

e r i a l
m a t
hte d
p y r i g
c o

a s t e p-by-
p- b y-ssttep
ep sti tch di cti onary
 contents
Hand embroidery needles .............6
Starting a thread ...........................7
Finishing a thread .........................7
Antwerp edging stitch...................8
Armenian edging stitch.................9
Back stitch ..................................10
Basque stitch...............................15
Braid edging stitch......................16
Breton stitch ...............................17
Bonnet stitch ..............................18
Bullion knot ...............................18
Buttonhole stitch ........................21
Cable stitch.................................34
Cable chain stitch .......................35
Cable plait stitch.........................38
Cast on stitch..............................39
Ceylon stitch...............................41
Chain stitch ................................43
Chevron stitch ............................59
Chinese knot ..............................62
Colonial knot..............................63
Coral knot stitch.........................64
Couching....................................66
Cretan stitch ...............................70
m
Cross stitch .................................72
hte d
Diamond stitch...........................79
Diamond upright stitch ..............80
p y r i g
Drizzle stitch...............................81
Eyelets.........................................82
c o Feather stitch ..............................85
Florentine stitch..........................90
Fly stitch.....................................91
Four-sided stitch .........................93
French knot ................................94
Glove stitch.................................95
Gobelin stitch .............................96
Hedebo stitch .............................97
Hem stitch..................................98
Herringbone stitch....................100
Hollie stitch ..............................105
Jessica stitch ..............................106
Long and short stitch................107
Loop stitch................................109
Montenegrin stitch ...................110
Mountmellick stitch..................112
Mountmellick thorn stitch........113
Needlewoven bars .....................114
Norwich stitch ..........................115
Nun stitch ................................116
Palestrina stitch.........................117
Parma stitch ..............................119
Pearl stitch ................................120
Pin stitch ..................................121
Plaited braid stitch....................122
Queen stitch .............................124
Raised fishbone stitch ...............125
Rhodes stitch ............................126
Rope stitch................................128
Rosette stitch ............................128
Running stitch ..........................129
r i a l
Satin stitch................................132
Scottish stitch ...........................137
e
a t
Scroll stitch...............................138
Seed stitch.................................139
Sheaf filling stitch .....................140
Shisha stitch..............................141
Smockers’ knot .........................142
Split stitch.................................143
Spider web stitch ......................144
Stem stitch................................146
Tent stitch.................................150
Thorn stitch..............................151
Trellis stitch ..............................152
Turkey work..............................155
Vandyke stitch ..........................156
Wheat ear stitch........................157
Woven picot .............................158
Index ........................................159
chain stitch Chain stitch is usually a linear stitch, but can also be used as a
filling or for padding under other stitches. There are many
variations of chain stitch. Also known as tambour stitch and
point de chainette.

1 Use one guide line. Bring the
thread out on the line. From the
right, insert the needle at the same
point and bring it out again further
along the line. Loop the thread
underneath the needle point.
2 Pull the needle through. From the
right, insert the needle into the first
chain, on the line where the thread
emerges. Bring the needle point back
out again further along the line and
take the thread under it.
3 Repeat to build up a line of chain
stitches. To finish, anchor the final
chain by taking a short stitch over its
end.

left-handed

For left-handers, the method is

flipped, and worked right to left.

e r i a l
starting a new thread
m a t
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cop
1 To finish a thread, take a short
stitch over the last chain. Fasten the
2 Fasten the new thread. Bring the
needle out in the last chain. Con-
thread at the back of the stitching. tinue stitching.

turning a sharp corner

1 To turn a sharp corner without a
break in the stitching, work up to
the corner and take a short stitch
over the end to finish off. Bring the
needle out in the last chain.
2 Insert the needle in the chain, and 3 Pull the needle through, and con-
bring the needle out again, a stitch tinue stitching.
length along. Loop the thread under
the needle point.

43
twisted chain stitch
1 Use one guide. Bring the thread
out on the line. Insert the needle just
below where the thread emerges.
Bring it out on the line a little fur-
ther along to the left. Take the thread
down across the needle and then up
behind the needle point.
4 Continue in the same manner. To
finish, take a short stitch over the last
chain.
alternating twisted chain stitch
y r i g
cop
1 Bring the thread out on the line.
Insert the needle just below where
the thread emerges. Bring it out on
the line a little further along to the
left. Take the thread down across the
needle and then up behind the nee-
dle point.
4 Pull the needle through. Insert
the needle just below where the
thread emerges. Bring it out on the
line. Take the thread down across the
needle and up behind the needle
point.
44
A simple chain variation, which can be used in a line or singly.
2 Pull the needle through to gently
tighten the twisted chain.
left-handed
Left-handers work this stitch from
left to right.
m a t
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2 Pull the needle through to gently
tighten the twisted chain.
5 Continue in the same manner,
alternating from side to side for each
subsequent stitch. To finish, take a
short stitch over the last chain.
3 Using the same needle angle and
stitch length as before, insert the
needle outside the previous chain,
just below where the thread emerges.
Bring the needle out on the line.
Take the thread down across the nee-
dle and up behind the needle point.
Twisted chains can also be worked
singly, and scattered in a pattern or
randomly, to create a powdered filling.
e r i a l
3 Using the same stitch length as
before, insert the needle outside the
previous chain, above where the
thread emerges. Bring the needle out
on the line. Take the thread up
across the needle then down behind
the needle point.
left-handed
Left-handers work this stitch from
left to right.
rice stitch Also known as crossed corners stitch, crossed corners cross
stitch and William and Mary stitch. Use a tapestry needle.

1 Bring the thread out. Insert the 2 Pull the needle through. Insert it 3 Pull the needle through. Insert it
needle four threads left and below, four threads right and down. Bring in the middle of the right, bringing
bringing it out four threads above. it in the middle of the bottom side. it out in the middle of the left side.

4 Pull the needle through. Insert it 5 Pull the needle through. Take the 6 Pull the needle through. Bring it
in the bottom middle. Bring it out needle to the back in the middle of out in the middle right. Take the
in the middle of the top side. the left side. thread to the back in the middle top.

left-handed

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7 The completed rice stitch.
m
Left-handers work this stitch in
a t When worked turned 45 degrees, it

h te d
mirror image. is called diagonal rice stitch.

pyr i g
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as a filling stitch

1 Bring the thread out. Insert the 2 Moving left, continue working 3 Work back to complete the
needle four threads left and below, half crosses to fill the required space. crosses. Bring the needle out in the
bringing it out four threads above. bottom middle.

4 In the same way as above, cross the 5 Continue in the same way to The two layers can be worked in
first cross’s corners. Bring the needle cross the corners of the entire row. different colours and thicknesses of
out centre bottom of the next cross. thread.
78
scottish stitch
Scottish stitch has squares of diagonal stitches, consisting of five
stitches over three by three fabric threads. Use a tapestry needle.
1 Bring the needle out. Insert it one
thread up and right. Bring it out
again two threads left and one down.
3 Pull the needle through. Insert it
three threads up and right. Bring it
out three threads left and two down.
5 Pull the needle through. Insert it
one thread up and right. Bring it out
p y r i g
two threads left and three down.
c o
8 Turn the work 180 degrees. Pull
the needle through. Insert it one
thread up and right. Bring it out
again two thread left and one down.
11 Continue in the same way to
complete the row of stitches.
2 Pull the needle through. Insert it
two threads up and right. Bring it
out three threads left and two down.
4 Pull the needle through. Insert it
two threads up and right. Bring it
out two threads left and one down.
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6 Pull the needle through. Insert it
one thread up and right. Bring it out
7 Continue in the same way to
build down a line of stitching. To
again two threads left and one down. start the next row, insert the needle
to finish the last stitch of the row and
bring it out three threads up.
9 Continue in the same way to 10 Turn the work 180 degrees. Pull
build down a line of stitching. To the needle through. Insert it one
start the next row, insert the needle thread up and right. Bring it out
to finish the last stitch of the row and again two thread left and one down.
bring it out three threads up.
left-handed
Left-handers work this stitch rotated
180 degrees.
137
index
Algerian eyelet stitch 84
alternating chain stitch 53
alternating twisted chain
stitch 44
antique hem stitch 99
antique stitch 69
Antwerp edging stitch 8
appliqué 121
Armenian edging stitch 9
arrowhead stitch 76
Assisi embroidery 131
back stitch 7, 10–14,
134, 139, 143
double 11
interlaced 13
isolated 139
split 7, 134, 143
threaded 12
whipped 12
zigzagging 10
back stitched spider’s web
144
bargello stitch 90
bargello work 90
basketweave tent stitch
150
Basque stitch 15
basting 129
Berlin stitch 72
between needle 6
blanket stitch 22
knotted 8
Bokhara couching 68
bonnet stitch 18
braid edging stitch 16
braid stitch 38
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plaited 122–123
Brazilian embroidery
c o
39, 40, 81
Breton stitch 17
briar stitch 85
brick stitch 107
broad chain stitch 54
bull’s head stitch 91
bullion knot 18–20
bullion loop 20
bullion stitch 18–20
Burden stitch 67, 130
couched 67
running 130
buttonhole bars 32
buttonhole eyelet 25
buttonhole filling with
return 30
buttonhole picot 33
buttonhole stitch 21–33
closed 22
crossed 23
knotted 24
slanted 87
spaced 22–23
tailor’s 27
up and down 28
whipped 26
buttonhole wheel 25
cable chain stitch 35–37 coral stitch 64, 88 double cable stitch 34 half chevron stitch 60
stepped 36 double 86 double cast on stitch 40 half cross stitch 72
zigzagging 37 single 85 double chain stitch 50 half Rhodes stitch 127
cable plait stitch 38 Spanish 58 double coral stitch 86 Hardanger embroidery
overcast 38 tied 117 double cross stitch 73 83, 114, 136
cable stitch 34 cordonnet stitch 129 double feather stitch 86 heavy chain stitch 54–55
double 34 couched Burden stitch double herringbone stitch hedebo embroidery 97
candlewick embroidery 63 67 method one 102 hedebo stitch 97
canvas stitch 150 couched trellis 66 method two 103 hem stitch 98–99
cast on stitch 39–40 couching 66–69 double knot stitch 117 antique 99
double 40 Bokhara 68 double Pekinese stitch herringbone ladder filling
catch stitch 100 Roumanian 69 14 stitch 101
caterpillar stitch 18 counted eyelets 83 double running stitch herringbone stitch
centipede stitch 109 crested chain stitch 58 131 100–104, 125
Ceylon stitch 41–42 Cretan catch stitch 70 double seed stitch 139 closed 100
chain stitch 35–37, Cretan stitch 70–71, 87, drizzle stitch 81 Deerfield 101
43–58, 89 101 edging double 102, 103
broad 54 catch 70 Antwerp 8 interlaced 104
cable 35–37 knotted 71 Armenian 9 overlapping 125
chequered 53 laced 101 braid 16 threaded 100
crested 58 slanting 87 embroidery needle 6 tied 101
detached 46–47 crewel needle 6 embroidery stitch 107 Holbein stitch 131
double 50 crewel stitch 146 encroaching Gobelin hollie point lace 105
feathered 57 cross stitch 72–78 stitch 96 hollie stitch 105
heavy 54–55 chained 73 encroaching slanted holy point 105
Hungarian braided 55 crossed corners 78 Gobelin stitch 96 holy stitch 105
interlaced 49 Danish 72 English cross stitch 72 Hungarian braided chain
knotted 52 double 73 eyelets 25, 82–84 stitch 55
magic 53
open 50
English 72
half 72
Algerian 84
r
buttonhole 25
e i a l Hungary stitch 90
Indian embroidery 141
Roman 50
rosette 51
square 50
m
Italian 76–77
Italian two-sided
76–77 t
counted 83
a
cut 82–83
faggot filling stitch 140
Indian filling stitch 69
inside-out lazy daisy 47
interlaced back stitch 13
stepped cable 36
tail 46
hte d long-armed 75
long-legged 75
fancy buttonhole filling
31
interlaced band 101
interlaced chain stitch
threaded 48
twisted 44
twisted zigzag 89
Montenegrin 110–111
plaited 74
Russian 100
feather stitch 57, 85–89
chained 57
closed 88
49
interlaced herringbone
stitch 104
vandyke 45
whipped 48
zigzagging 45
zigzagging cable 37
chain stitch padding 135
Smyrna 73
woven 74
crossed buttonhole stitch
23
crossed corners cross
double 86
long-armed 87
single 87
Spanish knotted 89
upright 88
interlocking Gobelin
stitch 96
Irish stitch 107
irregular long and short
stitch 108
chained cross stitch 73 stitch 78 feather work 107 isolated back stitch 139
chained feather stitch 57 crossed corners stitch 78 feathered chain stitch Italian cross stitch 76–77
chenille needle 6 cushion stitch 90, 150 57 Italian knot stitch 94
chequered chain stitch 53 cut eyelets 82–83 figure of eight 38 Italian knotted border
chevron stitch 59–61 daisy stitch 46 knot 63 stitch 92
closed 59 damask stitch 132 figure stitch 69 Italian two-sided cross
half 60 Danish cross stitch 72 fishbone stitch 125 stitch 76–77
pagoda 60 darner needle 6 flame stitch 90 Janina stitch 69
raised 61 Deerfield embroidery Florentine stitch 90 Jessica stitch 106
chiara stitch 131 69, 101 Florentine work 90 Kensington outline stitch
Chinese knot 62 Deerfield herringbone fly stitch 91–92 143
closed buttonhole stitch stitch 101 four-sided openwork kloster blocks 136
22 detached chain stitch stitch 93 knot stitch 8, 18
closed chevron stitch 59 46–47 four-sided stitch 93 coral 64–65
closed feather stitch 88 diagonal Montenegrin French dots 94 double 117
closed herringbone stitch stitch 111 French glove stitch 95 Italian 94
100 diagonal rice stitch 78 French knot 94 long tack 94
coil stitch 18 diagonal tent stitch 150 Ghiordes knot 155 old English 117
colonial knot 63 diamond stitch 79 glove stitch 95 Palestrina 117
continental stitch 150 diamond upright stitch Gobelin stitch 96 reverse Palestrina 118
coral knot stitch 64–65 80 gros point 72 twisted 94
zigzagging 65 double back stitch 11 grub knot 18 knotted blanket stitch 8
159
knotted buttonhole stitch overcast cable plait stitch ribbed spider’s web 144 square chain stitch 50 vandyke stitch 156
24 38 ribbed wheel 144 square stitch 93, 131 Venetian picot 33
knotted chain stitch 52 overlapping herringbone rice stitch 78 stalk stitch 146 waffle stitch 115
knotted Cretan stitch 71 stitch 125 Rococo stitch 124 starting a new thread wheat ear stitch 157
knotted loop stitch 108 overwrapped bullions 19 roll stitch 18 7, 35, 38, 43, 85 whipped back stitch 12
knotted pearl stitch 118 oyster stitch 51 Roman chain stitch 50 stem stitch 146–149 whipped buttonhole
knotted stitch 94 padded satin stitch Roman stitch 69 Portuguese knotted stitch 26
laced Cretan stitch 101 134–135 rope stitch 128 148 whipped chain stitch 48
ladder stitch 42 padding 134–135 rosette chain stitch 51 Portuguese 148 whipped running stitch
laid oriental stitch 69 chain stitch 135 rosette stitch 128 whipped 148 129
lazy daisy 47 running stitch 134 Roumanian couching 69 stepped cable chain stitch whipped spider web
lazy daisy stitch 46–47 satin stitch 135 running stitch 129–131 36 stitch 144
leaf stitch 107 split stitch 134 double 131 stitching 10 whipped stem stitch 148
leviathan stitch 73 pagoda chevron stitch 60 threaded 129 straw needle 6 William and Mary stitch
line stitch 131 Pakistani embroidery whipped 129 stroke stitch 131 78
long and short stitch 141 running stitch padding tail chain stitch 46 witch stitch 100
107 Palestrina knot stitch 134 tailor’s buttonhole stitch wool darner needle 6
irregular 108 117 Russian cross stitch 100 27 worm stitch 18
long tack knot stitch 94 Palestrina stitch Russian stitch 100 tambour stitch 43 woven cross stitch 74
long-armed cross stitch 117–118 ‘s’ twist 19 tapestry needle 6 woven picot 158
75 long-armed 117 sampler stitch 72 tapestry shading stitch woven spider web stitch
long-armed feather stitch reverse 118 satin stitch 132–136 107 145
87 Parma stitch 119 padded 134–135 tent stitch 150 woven spoke stitch 145
long-armed Palestrina pearl stitch 120 satin stitch padding tête de bœuf stitch 91 woven spot 145
stitch 117 knotted 118 134–135 thorn stitch 151 woven wheel 145
long-legged cross stitch Pekin knot 62 Schwalm embroidery 64 Mountmellick 113 ‘y’ stitch 91
75 Pekinese stitch 13 Scottish stitch 137 thread painting 108 yarn darner needle 6
long-tailed French knot double 14 scroll stitch 138 thread ‘z’ twist 19
94 Persian stitch 100 seed filling stitch 139 ‘s’ twist 19 zigzagging back stitch 10
loop stitch 46, 91, 109 petit point 150 seed stitch 139 ‘z’ twist 19 zigzagging cable chain
knotted 109 picot stitch 46 double 139 finishing 7 stitch 37
open 91
tied 46
picot
buttonhole 33
seeding stitch 139
shading stitch 107 85

e r i a l
starting 7, 35, 38, 43, zigzagging chain stitch
45
Madeira embroidery 121
magic chain stitch 53
many-petalled lazy daisy
Venetian 33
woven 158
pin stitch 121

m
shadow work 11
sharp needle 6
sheaf filling stitch 140 t
threaded back stitch 12

a
threaded chain stitch 48
threaded herringbone
zigzagging coral knot
stitch 65

47
Montenegrin cross stitch
pistil stitch 94
plaited braid stitch

hte d shisha stitch 141

silk shading 108
stitch 100
threaded running stitch
110–111

p y r
110–111i g
Montenegrin stitch
122–123
plaited cross stitch 74
plaited Slav stitch 75
single coral stitch 85
single feather stitch 87
single knotted line stitch
129
tied coral stitch 117
tied herringbone stitch

c o
Mossoul stitch 100
Mountmellick
embroidery
112–113
Mountmellick stitch 112
plaited stitch 100
plumage stitch 107
point de chainette 43
point de marque 72
point de sable 10
138
slanted buttonhole stitch
87
slanted Gobelin stitch 96
slanting Cretan stitch 87
101
tied loop stitch 46
tied stitch 91
trellis filling stitch 152
trellis stitch 152
Mountmellick thorn Porto Rico rose 18 smockers’ knot 142 couched 66
stitch 113 Portuguese knotted stem Smyrna cross stitch 73 Turkey work 155
needle painting 108 stitch 148 Smyrna stitch 117 Turkmen stitch 50
needles 6 Portuguese stem stitch Sofia stitch 74–75 turning a corner 21, 34,
back end of 6 148 Sorbello stitch 118 43, 110, 116, 146
needlepoint stitch 150 Portuguese stitch 75 South Kensington stitch twist stitch 75
needleweaving bars 114 post stitch 18 146 twisted chain stitch 44
needlewoven bars 114 powdered filling 44 spaced buttonhole stitch twisted knot stitch 94
New England laid stitch queen stitch 124 22–23 twisted zigzag chain
69 quilting needle 6 Spanish blackwork 131 stitch 89
Norwich stitch 115 railway stitch 73 Spanish coral stitch 58 two-sided Italian stitch
nun stitch 116 raised chain band 56 Spanish knotted feather 76–77
oblique Gobelin stitch 96 raised chevron stitch 61 stitch 89 two-sided line stitch 131
old English knot stitch raised fishbone stitch speckling stitch 139 two-sided Montenegrin
117 125 spider web stitch stitch 110
open buttonhole filling raised stem stitch band whipped 144 two-sided stroke stitch
stitch 29 149 woven 145 131
open chain stitch 50 reverse chain stitch 54 spiral trellis stitch 154 up and down buttonhole
open loop stitch 91 reverse Palestrina knot split back stitch 7, 134, stitch 28, 31
opus plumarium 107 stitch 118 143 upright feather stitch
oriental stitch 69 Rhodes stitch 126–127 split stitch 143 88
outline stitch 147 half Rhodes stitch 127 padding 134 vandyke chain stitch 45

160
your constant embroidery companion!
The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion will help you to learn and
master over 170 embroidery stitches including their variations. With clear
step-by-step instructions, accompanied by diagrams showing you what to
do, it is very hard to go wrong. Examples of each stitch will inspire you to
use the stitches creatively and experimentally in your embroidery.

Because The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion is so easy to use and

understand, in learning the stitches you will gain the confidence you need
to create beautiful works of embroidery.

You will discover:

• how easy it is to learn and master new stitches
• how to work surface stitches, needlepoint stitches and counted
thread stitches
• how the stitches and their variations should look, and how you can make
yours look the same
• how different stitches can be used creatively in your embroidery with
colour, texture and different types of thread

The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion is twin to The Left-Handed

Embroiderer’s Companion, which has been enthusiastically received by left-
handed embroiderers around the world.
Your stitch dictionary is proving to be so very helpful. I refer to it almost daily,
and am always impressed with the precision of your instructions. They are
so clearly stated that it is impossible to stitch incorrectly. It is an invaluable refer-
ence book and I am so delighted to have it nearby. SB, France

Take The Right-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion home today, and for

embroidery success, keep it constantly at your side.

Yvette Stanton is the author of several books on embroidery:

“The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion”, “Elegant
Hardanger Embroidery”, “Ukrainian Drawn Thread Embroidery:
Merezhka Poltavska” and with Prue Scott, “Mountmellick
Embroidery: Inspired by Nature”.
Following the success of “The Left-Handed Embroiderer’s
Companion” some right-handed embroiderers developed a con-
dition called left-handed envy. It was found that they were jeal-
ous of the left-handed stitch dictionary. We couldn’t have that,
so this book aims to redress the imbalance!

www.vettycreations.com.au