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.
Thank you for being here………. I love to create. About 4 years ago, someone showed me Beading. I can now do portraits or whatever I want. I like new challenges and your site has been done beautifully….arranged very professionally. I found the site for Pearl Cotton Yarn……and have ordered some. I have a big peacock I’m going to do when I get the yarn. Oh! I’m 78 years old so………..Just a small note to NEVER GIVE UP WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO………..HAVE A GREAT DAY.
Hi Sylvia,
What a wonderful message! Thank you! I am sure you are inspiration to many to keep learning and doing what they love, including me!
Thank you for your appreciation for our work. Each page takes a lot of research and time to create. Kind words like yours keep us encouraged. 😊
Please do share your project on peacocks’ when you get a chance. You can upload an image in the comments section. It will be a delight to see.
❤️ Sarah
Sarah! I can not get the peacock picture to print on here. I do not understand.
I sent my peacock to you in the CHAT in messenger. I’m sorry I could not put it in here.
Hi Sylvia!
I just saw your peacock in my chat. B-E-A- U-tiful!! 😍 I will check if there is a reason why the upload is not working and if I can do it for you. What an amazing work! I love it! ❤️
I want to know what stitch is best to do names. My friend lost her husband and I want my book buddies to all sign a tea towel that I can stitch. I also want to stitch a flower by their names. I am just learning so this is a challenge for me.
Hi Melissa,
I am sorry for your friend’s loss. I wish her strength. It is thoughtful of you to do something like this for her.
If you want to stitch names, use one of these stitches : Back Stitch and Outline Stitch. They are easy to work with and gives a neat result. For flowers, I am supposing it is going to be a small one. You can use Lazy Daisy or Satin Stitch to do the petals. Fill the center with French Knots or Satin Stitch. You can do the stems using the Stem Stitch.
Please let me know if you need any further help or advice for your stitching.
Here are the direct links to the stitches:
Names:
Back Stitch : https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/back-stitch/back-stitch/
Outline Stitch : https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/stem-stitch/outline-stitch/
Flowers:
Lazy Daisy : https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/chain-stitch/lazy-daisy/
Satin Stitch : https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/satin-stitch/satin-stitch/
French Knots : https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/knots/french-knot/
❤️ Sarah
Thank You for this. So far this has been the best picture tutorial for embroidery stitches that i have found so far. VERY helpful. I have always loved to embroider, but have not in many years, so was very out of practice.
Thank you, Nanny. Your words make all the effort worthwhile. I hope you enjoy the pages. ☺️❤️
Thank you Sarah for such a Awesome Website It is Amazing I am just starting on my Embroidery Journey and Your Website is Like My Bible I even had to make all the Pages available offline on my phone It is Amazing what you have done Cheers Kylie from Australia 😊💕
Thank you, Kylie!❤️
I am so glad that you are enjoying our pages.
In a couple of weeks I will be publishing an e book with lot more stitches and the basic information for beginners, along with lots of tips, samples, and history. You can see if you would be interested.
Keep stitching! 🙂
Will I be able to Buy on your website here? It sounds Great Cheers Again from Australia 😊 💕
Yes! The book will be available soon only in our website. 🙂
Wow, just wow!
I’m in awe of your talent and passion. The world cannot thank you enough for all of the work you have put into making all of this available online for those of us who are just beginning.
Hi Tani. The pleasure is mine. I am happy to share whatever I know and research with everyone, especially the beginners! So glad that you are loving our pages.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!! I’m trying to convert an image for a friend into an embroidered piece and I’m new to it and keep struggling to find things with a good picture of the stitch before that explanation and I am super bad at visualization. This lets me see what you’re talking about before I even click so that I can know whether or not I want to put it into the piece. You’re a lifesaver.
I am super happy that you found what you might have been looking for. Enjoy the picture dictionary and best wishes for your project! 🙂
This is just awesome.
So methodical and neatly done.
I used to search the net for new stitches when I started the ‘one year of stitches’ in 2017. The biggest challenge was finding suitable stitches for the pattern I made on my own.
Followed a few stitches from your site too.
But this compilation would be just perfect for all.
Sharing my finished project with you here.
Wow, Sujatha! What a wonderful piece of work! So nice to see this year long finished project. Did you dedicate each month to work on each zodiac sign? You’ve done a beautiful job!
We are happy that the picture dictionary will help you. It is a growing dictionary, so more stitches will just keep adding!
Keep sharing your work… Would love to see it coming!
Thank you Sarah
Coming from you, I take that as a huge compliment.
I decided on the Zodiac theme cos I could divide into 12 divisions and plan for a year. Made a few stitches daily. On buddy days I settled for the comfort zone of known stitches.
I have a doubt on embroidery… How can I do Cross Stitch on plain cloth? I vaguely remember my needlework teacher in school tell us about a mesh which we can pull out after stitching.
Is anything like that available?
Hi Sujatha,
Your idea of Zodiac is awesome!
To cross stitch on plain cloth, you do get a kind of mesh fabric which acts like a grid- it is called a ‘waste canvas’. You can gently pull out the threads of the mesh after the project. You also get a kind of water soluble mesh which dissolves away when you wash the cross stitched piece. You will get both online, and in hobby stores in the US.
That is Stunning You are Very Talented I’m only just beginning with Embroidery I have been Cross Stitching for 30yrs so I thought it was time for me to Try something else I’m loving it This Website is Very Helpful Cheers Kylie from Australia 😊
Wowwwww I just searched kasuti for beginners and now I have your website that is wonderful for embroidery lovers. This picture dictionary is great. I really need this as I am a beginner. Thanks a lot :))))
Awesome! You’re welcome Salma. Happy that you liked the picture dictionary.☺️
Thank you very much!
☺️
I really enjoy the variety of stitches you teach. I do a lot of crazy quilting and about all of your stitches go into my blocks. Thanks for such inspired help! i hope I got one of my blocks shared with you.
Hi Aretta,
We are so happy that you are enjoying our tutorials. Please share some of your works here. We always love to see what our readers are stitching. It will also help inspire other readers!
Great resource, thanks from a beginning stitcher!!
Thank you, Eileen! See you around. 🙂
Fabulous collection of heritage stitches.
Thanks Sonja. And more will be added!
I picked up embroidery after 50 years. I only knew a couple of stitches when I was taught as a child. Your site is fabulous .. great pics, easy explanation, step by step .. one of my “go to” sites for learning.
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for writing. It is really nice to know that you are getting back to the hobby after 50 years! Our picture dictionary is always expanding with more stitches and embroidery forms from around the world.
I hope you enjoy each page. Happy stitching.
-Sarah
Hello Sarah! I am very upset. I can’t get a good tutorial for pendant couching stitch. Would you please post a tutorial for this stitch. I’ll be very happy and thankful to you.
Regards
Hi Rana,
I think I have the tutorial for Pendant couching ready. But it will take me the weekend to post it. Please bear with me! I will definitely post it this Saturday, if not earlier.
Thanks for reminding me to keep posting the stitches. I realise it is long overdue. 🙂
Sarah
Here you go:
[pendant couching]
Have fun learning.
-Sarah
So many great stitches! It really makes me want to use some of them on future projects!
Romina
Fiz um caderno com 7 paginas e disponibilizo na Patchaula. São como este e trazem a explicação para fazer os pontos. No momento estão no Facebook.
Adorei esta organização que as explicações me deram.
Estas famílias dos pontos sempre me confundiram e este espaço soube organizar e dar nomes a todos eles. Vou compartilhar e divulgar.
Obrigada
Querida Rose,
Estou feliz por você ter encontrado nossas páginas boas para aprender. Muito obrigado.
Dear madam,
Oh, how your website brings back long buried memories from my childhood! I learned the basics as a child and then life took me down some nasty turns and I had to stop for a long time, but recently I was inspired to embellish some ordinary appliqué work.
On my first search for embroidery stitch samplers, I popped into a couple of other sites, and found myself ENTRANCED with all the variations you display! I believe that I learn best by hands-on methods, and videos can often go too fast for me. Your 3D pictures and plain directions make relearning these so quick and easy! And I’m surprised to read that your site is a rarity! Thank you a hundred times over, and may you continue to share your beautiful details!
Lilly from Sudbury, Canada
Dear Lilly,
Thank you so much for your appreciation for our website and efforts. It makes our day to know that you like the way it is done…makes all the effort worthwhile!
I am extremely sorry that I am responding only now. I have a young family and between the demands and chores, I miss some very valuable comments now and then.
Hope you are still enjoying our pages.
Much love,
Sarah
Hello Madam..I am so greatful to you..i am a beginner..this website is very useful to me..Thank you so much madam..
Dear Sara,
Thank you so much.
Zélia
Dear sara,
It’s great. thank you thank you:) It’s what I always wanted:)
That is wonderful to hear, Sepideh!! 🙂
very good
This is my favourite website in the world right now.
Hii Sarah!
I love your website because of the different stitches that I can learn on your site!
I wanted to ask you a question!
Can u pls suggest me some hand embroidery that can look good on a simple handbag!
Waiting eagerly for your answer!
Pls do reply soon
Its really urgent!!!!
I finished my first project and wanted to share with you because I referenced your site a MILLION times for so many of the different stitches. This is a whitework piece. My first attempt. Just a random design I drew up. This was so much fun though! So many fun and awesome-lookimg stitches out there! Thank you for explaining them and illustrating so many of them so well. Keep up the great work!
Hi Sarah, this is great work. I was looking for pictorial stitches and ah your dictionary is so good. As a teacher I teach stitches in to 13+ year students taking home science. I would like to use your samples as teaching aid as well as clothing and textile revision book for this age, is it ok? . Congratulation.
Jane
Hi Sarah mam,
Your tutorial is helpful for me. I can search many tutorials but ur tutorial is one of the best tutorial to learn and doing embroidery in free time in my home. So keep work. God bless you Sarah.
Thank you.
This is so wonderfully helpful. I founded a little sewing group for Burmese pregnant ladies, whose husbands are migrant workers in Phuket, Thailand. Language is a barrier but pictures always work. I myself have no background in embroidery, so it’s a learning curve for me. Projects like this can be done in lonely hours and especially when they have no access to sewing machines. Many thanks.
Happy to know that the tutorials are helping the group. 🙂
Thank u sooo…much for ur fantabulous tutorial…it’s very helpful for me..
thank you Sarah.
this is relay useful tutorial.
thank u again…
Hay Sarah,
I was looking for a website that would show me different embroidery stitches from many days. I found this post really helpful .I would like to appreciate these pictures. They are so easy to understand .
THANK YOU
khyati
Super. How to learn?
hi ,i am a big fan of ur embroidary hads
Please method to teach sewing stones and pearls on fabric (thanks)
Hi, first of all thank you for your site.
I would like to learn embroidery and your site help me.
dear Sarah Hru….? fentastic work of Embriodry…. sarah
Wow!! Thank you Sarah for all the work to post these stitches online!! You’re terrific!!
I just found your site and am in awe!! The pictionary is fabulous. Tutorials are wonderful and easy to understand. Your site is definitely now my main reference site.
I am so looking forward to your tutorials on ribbon embroidery. Please add my email to your subscription list. Thank you so very much.
Thank you so much for publishing this pictionary! Very helpful! I learned embroidery when was 8, and now, 30 years later, I’ve decided to pick it back up again. I’m working my way through re-learning and learning new stitches, and your website is amazing!
Thank you so much for all the patterns and tutorials. So great work. All the best for you and your family! Greets and love
Bina
I want to start doing embroidery again. Through the years I’ve forgotten a lot and was wondering if you could do something with the basic stitches.
Thank you so much for this site.
Dear sarah mam, picture dictionary is very useful to me.Lovely tutorial. I learnt so many stitiches through your website. How is your cute daughter?
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😛 And, if you are writing at additional online social sites, I
would like to follow everything new you have to post.
Could you post a list of the complete urls of all your social networking pages like your linkedin profile,
Facebook page or twitter feed?
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ah,this is wonderful! Absolutely exactly what I was looking for! I have this delightful book I found in my mother’s sewing goodies and it’s full of these same stitches. ‘Coats and Clark’s- One Hundred Embroidery Stitches’, and I have just been having a blast trying my hand at it, but the drawings they have with the stitches are just that, drawings. It’s lovely seeing the bright happy colors of string to really make the stitches look right, and some of the more complicated ones a little more define-able. Thank you for posting this! It get’s my embroidery itch going all over again!
Thank You very much. This is exactly what I have been looking for.
I think these are very special , old and rare. What would you call them? A practice stitch cloth? Thanks. Would like to know what to call them when I list them on ebay on Thursday. email me if you can. Amy
File: embr1.JPG
You can probably call them SAMPLERS ?
very nice
I am going join ur EMBROIDERY TUTORI
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Sarah, one of the stitches I really like is the ‘buttonhole bar’. However, I can’t figure out what it would be used for. I feel so ignorant. So many lovely stitches and I don’t know how to use them in my embroideries. Do you have a spot that tells how and where different stitches are used? Thank you so much and God bless.
P.S. Stay healthy. You need ALL your energy.
Hi Rienda.
I will be gradually putting up tutorials of embroideries that would use these stitches. Some of them are already posted. For some stitches, I mention in the first few lines how those stitches are best used. 🙂