Zigzag Chain Stitch is also known as
Vandyke chain stitch [EN], Punto de cadeneta en zig zag / Punto de cadeneta Van Dyke [ES], Point de chaînette en zigzag [FR], Zick-Zack Kettenstich [DE], Punto catenella a zigzag [IT], Ponto de cadeia em ziguezague [PT], Kedjesöm i sick-sack [SV].
How to do the Zigzag Chain Stitch
This stitch is the incorporation of Chain Stitch in a zigzag manner. In other words, the Zigzag Chain Stitch is done between two parallel lines instead of one. Ideal for any border embroidery, this is more of a decorative stitch. I have used only one stitch line to illustrate this stitch. You may imagine a parallel stitch line over the one that I have marked. To do this stitch, you need to know how to do the Chain Stitch.
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| Fig 1: With the base on the stitch line, do a Chain Stitch loop. | Fig 2: The stitch should be slanted at about a 45-degree angle, from the stitch line. If it helps, you may draw a parallel stitch line as well. |
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| Fig 3: Continue with the chain stitch procedure, but keep the needle at a 45-degree angle always, for every new stitch. | |
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| Fig 4: You should get a pattern like this when done on a straight line. You can try to follow curves too. | |
Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over 17 years, making it accessible to everyone around the globe.
I was looking for a frill type stitch on the end of a sheer dress fabric on an embroidery piece, this stitch was perfect and gave a tiny fold look with one strand of thread…thank you
Wonderful, Susan. It is always nice to hear how our pages help our readers. Thank you for dropping by.
Thank You Ms. Sara..I am so glad that you gave reply to my msg 🙂 Thanks a lot..
Am sure I can learn a lot from you.
So glad that I could find this Page..Thank u so much..
Hii, Sara…
I am really a fresher to embroidery..Am Zero.. Can you please tell me if we should use embroidery thread for the works of the normal thread will do???
Dear Anjali,
If you are an absolute fresher, and at the moment have no embroidery threads, you can probably try out with the normal ones. However, it will not give you the desired results or a good experience of embroidering. I would strongly suggest that you use embroidery threads after trying out with the normal threads for a few times.
wow!Sarah this is totally amazing i was looking for something like and this was really helpful. Thanks so much
Hi Sarah,
I would like to know how to do Herringbone Vandyke stitch,zardosi works and patters for making saree.
thanks a lots for providing such a wonderful tutorials in embroidery.
Hi Sarah,
I would like to know how to do Vandyke Herringbone stitch,zardosi works and patters for making saree.
thanks a lots for providing such a wonderful tutorials in embroidery.
Hi sarah..U have lots of awesome tutorials.. n nice collection.. I would like to do those stitches in fabric n stick on the book fr reference.. I will b doing the same like ur stitch dictionary reference.Recently I am going fr hand embroidery class..But they taught vandyke stitch is quite different from yours.. I searched youtube fr vandyke stitch..Plz have a look from mary corbet’ video..n plz confirm if there r the same? Thanks
Dear Joann,
This is the Vandyke chain stitch which is different from Vandyke stitch. I will be posting the Vandyke stitch sometime.
Hi,
I’m very much interested in Embroidery. Your illustration is very helpful. Can you please tell how many strings of threads should be used for certain stitches and also the reverse pattern for each stitches.
Thanx in advance,
–shyamu
Dear Shyamala,
You can use 2 to 3 stands of thread.
Dear Brenda,
Thanks for your words of appreciation. 🙂
We are working on an E-book right now. You can print it to your convenience once we make it available. There is a slight delay in coming out with it as I am bound with two little kids and frequent travels. It should be available in a 2-3 months, and I will only be glad to let you know about it. We appreciate that despite your inability with your back, you have the heart to revisit your old hobby.
I am 32 years old and live with our two little kids and a husband(my third kid) who is a great support and help in bringing out this tutorials to you. 🙂
Hello Sarah
What a wonderful site with just beautiful stitches. The way you have put them together and your beautiful work has helped me so much, to brush up and re-learn many stitches that my mother taught me some 50 some years ago. It will teach anyone wanting to learn them the way you have shown them. I also love your reference library of stitches by name or by pictures. I have done very little hand embroidery for many years and now I’m taking a couple of art quilting classes and they also do hand embroidery and I couldn’t recall all of the stitches nor could I find a good book with all the stitches in it. Do you have a book I could buy with all the stitches in it? That would be a great help to me. I am disabled because of my back and can only sit at my desk for short periods at a time. Then I sit in my recliner and could take your book with me to brush-1up on the stitches I am using in which ever art piece I’m doing at the time. I have to ask you how old are you? You are about the age I was, when my mother taught me.
Dear Sarah,
Thanks for the very pretty variations of chain stitch. I was looking
for a border stitch and I found one here.
thanku for all ur stiches they r vgood. i would like to knw aari work, & kashmire stich if u can help thanku
Dear Madhu,
Aari work is done with a special needle. I have made a tutorial where we use a normal embroidery needle to reproduce the same embroidery. Please check https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/hand-embroidery/zalakdozi/zalakdozi-tutorial/
Hope this helps. 🙂
Dear Sarah,
Thank you very much for these wonderful tuitorials.I am very much interested in doing hand emb and your tui are most helpful.It is like finding a treasure of stiches.
Chhaya.
Hello Chhaya,
It is really nice to hear that you are enjoying our pages. 🙂
Madam,
I am very very happy about your online classes. As I am an employee I could not attend any classes. I was very excited to see your site in the internet. It made me to remember all the stitches when I was in primary classes. I embroidered my daughters two dresses also. Thanks alot.
Dear Archana,
So happy that you could learn and practice from our pages. 🙂 Thanks.
Sarah,
Thank you so much for this tutorial!! My grandmother taught me all these stitches when I was younger and I forgot some of them. Seeing them again in an easy to understand tutorial has brought those precious memories back. Also, I can use some new stitches when I embroider wedding dresses. If you don’t mind, I would love to link this website to my facebook page.
Dear Emily,
We are happy that our pages revived some of your fond memories, and you found them good to refer and learn new stitches. 🙂
So, you embroider wedding dresses… that is wonderful.
I would have no objections if you want to link this website to your facebook page. 🙂
hey sarah,
isnt the stitch at 45 degrees? just asked to avoid confusion for beginners like me.
Dear Leema,
Thanks for pointing that out! You are right, it should be 45 degrees with the stitch line as the base.
I think my head had taken a vacation. 😛
The correction has been made. 🙂
Hi Sarah,
Great to see that you have already corrected it!
Its human to make mistakes. I thought it spoiled the otherwise perfect tutorial and hence sent you a mail.
Btw it would be great if you could reply to my doubt in the homepage of the chain stitch family. As suggested by you posting a comment in the relevant page would help others who might have similar doubts and hence I am not asking it here again.
Also warm bday wishes for your lil one.
Just anxious to know where you are located in India. Are you in Kerala and if so in which part of Kerala? If you are in Trivandrum I would love to attend your classes in person.
Leema
Hello Leema,
Thanks for your wishes.
We are located in Pune. Right now, we are in Kerala for a few days, though.
🙂
Hey Sarah!
Are you located in Pune? If yes please let me know where and if you take classes?? I would really love to join…
Thank’s a lot about your very excellent write tutorial. You give me more than what I want. Thank’s…….
Hey Ratnawati,
Thanks for your appreciation. Enjoy stitching! 🙂
Hi sarah ..
Just pitched into the embroidery section when I was browsing .. Good job!!! There is a beautifully written tutorial for a wide range of stitches… Had never seen this zig-zag chain stitch anywhere .. You have explained this stitch with really good pics !!!
Book marking this site for future reference !!
-srilatha
Hey srilatha,
Thanks. Nice to hear from you. 🙂
Do let know if you looking for any other kind of specific stitch. Maybe I can place it up here.