This Embroidery Stitch Picture Dictionary will help you to identify the stitches even if you don’t know the names! Dig through our embroidery stitch library of 300 stitches below—click over a picture and go directly to the stitch tutorial page.
When I started researching and documenting hand embroidery stitches way back in 2007, many stitches looked similar in their basic technique. To make identifying easier, I started categorizing them into different groups. I call each group a Stitch Family. This categorization should help you in easy reference, and for identifying and selecting the stitches. The Stitch Families are placed in alphabetical order. 🙂 Hover over the images for the alternate names in different popular languages.
We have a dedicated Hand Embroidery Book with the picture dictionary and step-by-step guides to each of these 306 stitches. Buy now and start stitching!
Back Stitch Family
Blanket Stitch Family
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Raised Blanket Stitch
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Knotted Blanket
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Chain Stitch Family
Chevron Stitch Family
Couching Stitch Family
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Honeycomb Filling
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Cretan Stitch Family
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Plaited Insertion
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Cross Stitch Family
Fishbone Stitch Family
Feather Stitch Family
Fly Stitch Family
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Reversed Fly
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Whipped Reversed
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Threaded Reversed
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Anklet Stitch
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Herringbone Stitch Family
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Laced Herringbone
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Indian H’bone
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Closed H’bone
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Otomi
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Shadow Stitch
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Maltese Cross
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Double Maltese
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Interlaced Maltese
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Int’ced d’ble Maltese
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Persian Star
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Vertical H’bone
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Vandyke
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H’bone Ladder
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Half Herringbone
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Raised Herringbone
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Knot Stitch Family
Palestrina Stitch Family
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Mountmellick
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Eastern Stitch
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Running Stitch Family
Satin Stitch Family
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Surface Satin
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Back Stitched Satin
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Trailing Stitch
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Double Satin
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Stem Stitch Family
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Double Lock Stitch
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Straight Stitch Family
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Weave Stitch Family
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Stripped Woven Band
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Broad Woven Picot
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Portuguese Border
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Knit Stitch Family
Learn all these stitches and plenty more from our 600-page eBook.
Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over 17 years, making it accessible to everyone around the globe.
Dear sarah,
thank you so much for your tutorials.
Actualy i dont have words say that how useful this stitches for me. & if you can do some ribbon tutorials same like this . It will be great. Thanks.
Im waiting to see those from you. 🙂
Dear Nuwandi,
:). Yes, I would like to make some ribbon embroidery turorials. But honestly, it might take a long time though since I already have many projects to finish before even thinking of it.
Found the site on Pinterest; love love love it! The dictionary by picture is genius and your stitch guides are so east to follow. Thanks for posting these!
hi, i am a house wife. my 9 years old daughter like to learn embroidery from your site. is this correct age to start now itself. Shall i give her permission for learning. please reply soon. she is very eager to start nowitself.
i am also going to learn from ur site. its very impressive.
thankyou.
waiting for ur reply
arthi.s
Dear Arthi,
If your little daughter can hold a needle safely (with your intial help), she can start off with learning embroidery! What is required is interest, which she has. Only, make sure she takes up simple stitches and designs…something she can do in a day or two. This will keep her interest on. As she improves on her skills, technique, and patience, she can move to bigger designs and advanced stitches.
Do share with us what she works on. 🙂 It will be nice to see her learn.
Best wishes. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us. Very attractive. Easy to learn.
wow! i stumbled upon your blog and i’m sure i will be visiting often for reference and inspiration! … i never realized stitches could be so creative! thanks for the awesome dictionary!!!
What a great website! Thank you so much! It’s beyond useful for beginners like me!
Dear Sarah,
It is really heartening to see this website. Hats off to your efforts put up. I am also good at hand work and interested in promoting the same. Will always seek guidance fromyou.
Thank you for making my with such beautiful website.
Warm regards
Sunanda, Mumbai
What a great page you have Sarah! I was searching for embroidery tutorials and I found it.
Great pictures! I’m a beginner and it helped me very much! Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much!
I stumbled upon your website through pinterest.com. As a beginner hand embroiderer I have to admit I love how you made your tutorials so easy to understand. Thank you for your detailed and beautiful work!
And congratulations on the birth of your beautiful daughter!
Hi Juby…. KUDOS!!! excellent work.. i have missed so much in these months… you have added so many wonderful lessons…
I remembered you again after my recent stint with a hand-embroidery group here… a small course and an effort to support women employment… but I am the most benefited person today as I am back to my stitching phase… this is also boosting me to rethink about my dream of opening up a boutique in India… 🙂
Attaching a few of my recent works, not very clear as it was clicked from my phone… will upload better pics soon…
Hi Marlin,
Indeed, been long. Your works are really impressive!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing them. Will wait for more, of course.
I hope your boutique to be set up soon… would like to visit it. 😀
Wow, your work is beautiful! I still dream of doing some beautiful stitching on my clothes to add some spice and character. I am still dreaming…
I love your work.
Thanks so much for all the hard work doing all the tutorials and doing the pic-dictionary! This is just the perfect way to learn so many wonderful stitches. I had no idea that many existed! Thank you, thank you!
Hi Sarah,
The idea of picture dictionary is too good!!! It is easy to select the stitch.
Dear Lisa, Ruhan, Shubhangi,Marzie,
We are happy that you are enjoying our site and like the picture dictionary. 🙂
so beautiful 🙂
thanks.
Hello Sarah,
I have embroidered one saree in kasuti and thought that kasuti is limited to that much only. but thanks to u . i just saw many beautiful stiches and their applications that there is a wish to embroider yet another saree/ something else .
Thanks a lot.
This is beautiful.
I just found this list of stitches and I love it! Thank you so much! Which do you prefer for letters? I’d love to try a few.
Dear Majna, Riti,and Sarah
We feel happy that you liked our pages and found it inspiring. 🙂
Hi Sarah,
I’ve just found your site through Pinterest – I’m in heaven!
I’ve longed to learn how to ‘stitch’ properly for years.
I run my own sewing business and wanted to be able to embroider monograms etc on to people’s garment etc but have never quite found the inspiration for it – well I know what I’m going to be doing tonight, trying out some of these lovely tutorials – your site is awesome, thank you so much for taking the time to make it all 🙂
Could I have your email address too so that I can chat some more to you?
Many thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah !
Thanks for your detailed blog. And the picture dictionary is the icing on the cake ! My grandmother used to be fabulous with hand embroidery. But, I never bothered to learn from her. I should have ! Lately, I have started having this inkling to hand embroider , and am planning to start learning. 🙂
Thanks to you and your blog ,at least, I have a place to start .
Regards,
Riti.
DeaR SarAh…
Wow SupERb….! I like aLL thEse nd i Wil try Out…..thnq u very much for dis site……
Dear Sarah…
I just come across to your site and found it fabulous really…
Your lessons are such straight forward and useful.. indeed helpful.
have gone through all the segments in this site, i cant resist saying Wow….
i gotta appreciate the attitude of both of you… Happy souls…
I liked your tutorials very much and inspired to start learning embroidery.
I wish you both all the best.
Love,
Swathi…
Dear Swathi,
Thanks for all your appreciation. 🙂 It makes all the effort worthwhile. We are glad to know that these pages inspire you to begin embroidery. Hope you enjoy it.
beautiful presentation….
Dear Sarah, wish u a happy new year….
i have started practicing the stiches…but if i have to patch a floral design on another….which stitch would be appropriate….??
god i m falling addicted to this site….
Dear Navneet,
Thanks. 🙂 Wish you a great new year too.
To patch your floral pattern to a fabric you can use stitches like, blanket stitch, satin stitch, or try the palestrina stitch for a different effect. But before you do any of these stitches, first attach the pattern using a running stitch. You can cover it using the before mentioned stitches. Hope this helped and gave you an idea.
Dear Linda, Deepa,
Thank you very much for your appreciations. 🙂
Best wishes for the new year!
I honestly need partnership with a competent embroidery,cos I have many designs and a believe that if one can partner with me,we will do extremely well.I
Sarammme…
Superb Pictionary !!
If you could tweak your website so that we could see the order of your posts (for instance,previous 5 posts) that would be nice.
Happy New Year to you…
Regards,
Deepa
Done! Have added a “Recent Stitches” section to the sidebar.
Wishes for the New Year!
What a beautiful job you do with your stitches & demonstrating them. Thank you so much for your kindness of sharing.
Hi Sarah,
Your stitch dictionary and picture dictionary are awesome. Keep it up. Its very useful.
can you please post “spiral trellis woven stitch” next time. Thank You. once again.
regards and wishes
Dear Tency,
Thanks :). I will try to include the ‘spiral woven trellis stitch’ as soon as I get a chance.
Hi Sarah,
Recently I came across your site, I do not know how to express my thanks & love to
you. Your stitch dictionary & picture are wonderful. I am very much interested in
new stitches. it is really.. really ..helpful. I would be grateful if you could post the tutorial
of”Spiral trellis woven ” stitch. I can’t understand from pintangle.
Love and wishes
Fernanda, Shahin, Hamdha,
Thank you very much. 🙂 I am glad that you all have liked this page.
Great Work!!!!! Ur site is simply awesome!! Luved it <3 <3
I'm gonna start ryt away 🙂
Hi Sarah !
This is the first time I came across your website. I can’t believe on my eyes ! I never knew there is soooo much to do in hand embroidery. I wish to have my own institute, wherein I can teach my students the best hand embroidery lessons. And your site is definitely very very useful. THANKS A LOT FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL SITE !! GOD BLESS YOU and your FAMILY !!
Sarah,
Congratulations on your website!!! All of the tutorials are very clear and I think its great to have this information on the internet, so people all over the world can learn how to stich!
Well Done!
Dear Gnana, Daniella, Heidi,
Happy that you all are enjoying the picture dictionary. 🙂
Great idea. Thanks
Thank you so much for posting this! This is great!
Sarah, lovely dictionary and excellent tutorial. Thousand tons of Thanks to you!!!
Gnana
Dear Caren, Claudia, Monica and Erica,
I am really happy that you all have loved the picture dictionary and that it has helped pump up your enthusiasm in hand embroidery. 🙂
I reaaallly love this!! You are really amazing, sarah! And I’m now learning how to do the these 🙂
I love it!
Hello Sarah! This picture dictionary is just fabulous! So pretty as well as easy to go through! Lovely, lovely. Thank you so much for sharing. It is so inspiring just to look at all of those stitches. Love it! Greetings from Germany
Thanks for your work on this website, it has helped many from around the world! I am embroidering ornaments for Christmas and this picture dictionary has been very helpful. Now I can see what the stitches look like! Thank you very much.
Sarah,
Do u have lessons on buttonwheel stitches??
Dear Divya,
I do have lessons for buttonhole stitch family ready, including buttonhole wheel stitch. I hope to post them in the next segment…maybe in a week or so. 🙂
I really like this link, your information has help me to design a sample piece. Please keep this site on going. Much thanks.
Glad that you liked this page, Begum. 🙂
Dear Raji, Gina, Maxameliana, Soumya,
Thank you very much. I am happy that this page is helping you and you liked the idea. 🙂
the pic-dictionary is such a wonderful idea… thumps up
Sarah, you are amazing, I have looked and looked for a book teaching the embroidery stitches. I just found your website. Thank you very much for the beautiful stitching instructions.
are all the stitches over? could you please paste a a project (some scenery/theme) with maximum stitches covered in it 🙂
Dear Sharmishtha,
This is probably only half of the stitches to be yet seen. I am trying to post a new one every 3-4 days. I have some bigger projects with samples of the stitches too, but they will all be coming slowly.
looking forward to it 🙂
thank you so much for the beautiful tutorials! you are the reason that I’m learning to embroider
wah… a great move sarah…..so v can select the stitch easily.
Raji.
I love all these… and this dictionary is a great idea…. thanks for all the tutorials…
Hugz
Thank you Fiona. 🙂
I saw the lovely quilts at your website and it is quite an inspiration, more since we are expecting our second baby in January, and our first one is growing fond of quilts this winter. 😀
Superb thumpsup
hiii thiz is munira i was quite intrested to learn more designs as i knw bt i want to learn more designs so plsss send yr number and adress in my email id
i love your stitches fgiona lol love you by 5the way
Thank you, I have been looking for embroidery stitches this is a big help. Do you have Patterns? Or know where I can find patterns?