Six hand embroidery stitches that cover 90% of patterns

Modern hand embroidery uses a surprisingly small vocabulary. These six stitches will get you through nearly every hoop pattern you'll meet.

Setting up

Use a 6-inch wooden hoop, medium-weight cotton or linen, and six-strand cotton floss split to 2 or 3 strands. Transfer your design with a water-soluble pen or a light window. Fabric should be drum tight.

The six

1. Running stitch: in and out in a dashed line. Borders, texture, sashiko.
2. Back stitch: come up one stitch length ahead, go back down into the end of the previous stitch. The workhorse for outlines and lettering.
3. Satin stitch: parallel stitches side by side to fill a shape. Keep them close and angled consistently. Outline in split stitch first for crisp edges.
4. French knot: wrap the needle twice, hold the wraps taut, and go back down right beside where you came up. Flower centres, texture, eyes.
5. Lazy daisy (detached chain): a single loop anchored with a tiny stitch. Five of them make a flower.
6. Chain stitch: loops linked in a line. Thick outlines, stems, bold letters.

Tidy backs

Start with an away knot or a couple of tiny holding stitches, and finish by weaving the tail under existing stitches. If the piece will be framed in the hoop, the back needn't be perfect, but tidy is easier.

Finishing a hoop

Trim the fabric to an inch beyond the hoop, run a gathering stitch around the edge, pull tight, and either glue a felt circle on or leave it. Done.

Ideas

• Your house number and a sprig of leaves.
• A botanical wreath around a family name.
• Simple lettering of a favourite line.

Post a photo of your hoop; the community loves seeing progress.

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