Hand embroidery is a fascinating art that anyone can use to beautify any fabric with needle and thread. It is a myth that only a skilled embroiderer can make beautiful designs. Anyone can learn how to do embroidery by getting a hand of a few basic stitches. So, if you are just getting started with embroidery, learn these 8 basic stitches and you will be able to rock any embroidery project that might come in your way! It might take a little practice to be expert in these but do not worry as it will be a fun and exciting journey.
1) BackStitch:
You will be using this stitch most in your embroidery projects. It is used to do outlining and goes well with other stitches. It is easy to do and used to create a solid line. It works well with straight lines as well as curves. It is a very popular zardosi art stitch and heavily used in Indian Folk Cloth called Phulkari.
2) French Knots:
This modern stitch is used heavily to give a 3D texture to your embroidery designs. You might find it more mesmerizing than other stitches because of its flower type look. To do it you have wrapped the thread around the needle and pass it through the fabric. Remember to hold the thread until it passes through the fabric completely.
3) Stem Stitch:
It is another basic stitch mainly used to do outlining in accessories like bags, purse etc.
4) Kantha Stitch:
It is mainly used in showing folk painting and screen from Indian mythology on saree and kurti. It is popularly used in West Bengal and Odisha, and in Bangladesh. Cushion Cover, Bedspreads, Sarees, etc. are embellished with it.
5) Cross Stitch:
It is also known as X-shape stitch because of its pattern. It is extremely popular and used by embroiderers to create intricate designs on needlepoint fabric. It is loved by younger generation because of its nature and ease of stitching.
6) Chain Stitch:
It is the basic of Indian Aari Embroidery. This is the first stitch that an artist in India learns when starts doing embroidery. It is used to make borderline. You can try more variation in this once you get hand of this.
7) Markan Stitch:
Mainly used with zari metallic thread. It makes nice borders and can be done a lot faster than chain stitch.
8) Load Stitch:
As the name suggests, this stitch is used for filling or padding. The main purpose of it is to give dimension to the designs. You can make the designs as thick as you want. All you have to do is, make a few more base stitches. In the below image filling is done with white thread and finishing is done with red art silk thread.
