About the Surrey Stitch
This stitch, you can see if you pay attention to the technique, can be worked perfectly over even weave fabric. The Surrey Stitch is used in Berlin Wool Work, a form of wool on canvas embroidery that was popular in the 1800’s. Initially, the Berlin patterns were flat, but around the mid 1800’s the patterns started to become more realistic and dimensional with the use of padding and plush trimmed stitch, which of course, was acheived by the Surrey Stitch. In surface embroidery, this stitch can be used wonderfully on the edges of the fabric to make a threaded effect. It can also be used in successive rows, and later trimmed and cut to make a velvet filling or a bushy effect. This tutorial will only teach you the technique of doing this stitch.
How to do the Surrey Stitch
Work between two closely drawn parallel stitch lines.
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| Fig 1: Go in through A, and come out from B, in the lower stitch line. Leave the thread open. Now, go in through C, a point directly above A and in the above stitch line. Keep the open thread towards the left, as shown. | Fig 2: Bring the needle out through A as shown. |
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| Fig 3: Now, take the needle in through D and out through A, as in Fig 1. Do not pull the thread out. Instead, leave the loop at a length that you desire. |
Fig 4:Keeping the loop long, take the needle in through E, and out through D. |
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| Fig 5: Keep up with this process for the entire row. Remember to keep the loops hanging and at a similar length. You can leave it like it is, especially if you are doing edgings. | Fig 6: Else, you can cut the loops to give it a different effect. You can make rows of such stitches to fill a given area. Later, you can cut and trim the threads for a bushy feel. Remember to begin from the bottom row and work upwards in such a case. This will keep you from being bothered by the threads of the previous row! |
Surrey Stitch Sample
Related Stitches from the Knot Stitch Family
Learn the Fern Stitch along with 305 other stitches 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.
Hi Sarah.
How can I see your previous posts,i.e, your previous stitches that you keep uploading in this forum?
hye..sarah ..im from malaysia ..i want to learn but its looks so difficult ..can i get any step 2 step to do the stiching
Dear Sarah
I just found your websites…. your explanation is very simple for me the beginner. Thank you 😘
Hi Dear, I am a big fan of you. I started learning embroidery from your site. Could you pls tell me what kind of embroidery to be used to design a bird on dress (as attached)
Dear Sarah
I love embroidery. I found your website in 2013. Your website is very resourceful. The group I am part of it, we teach different art of needlework. I am teaching embroidery.
I use your site for reference. Thanks for your knowledge. God bless you. From: Puerto Rico.
Ana V. Gonzalez
Hi Ana,
It is nice to know that our website is used for reference. 🙂
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for this site. I find your instructions for the stitches very helpful and clear.
One comment I have on website itself. I find it very hard to get to a stitch; the selection menu keeps disappearing. It would be easier to have a list of stitches somewhere with links to click on; and also it would be nice to see all stitches of one family together, so that you can scroll down through them.
Also, in the master list of all stitches, it would be nice if there was a picture of each stitch. Now I have to click on many stitches till I find the one that I need for a certain task, because I may not know the name of what I am looking for.
Thanks! And happy stitching.
Thanks Penny for letting know. We will try to figure something out. 🙂
very nice for your explanations, everything looks simple with you.
Sarah
what fabrics you are sewing on your stitched? And what is the name? Where can I purchase?
Hi there – love your site. Was ur ebook ever published – I see it to the right of your page but there is no link. Please let us know? ; )
Dear Sarah,
Great work you and your team has done. We are a not-for-profit organization working in Pakistan, currently running three months training for women artisan on Phulkari embroidery.
I was wondering if we can use your illustrations and pictures on various stitch types and techniques for the training manual which is in development phase, with due credit to you or your firm. I will surely share soft copy of Manual with you.
Kindly advise.
pls let me receive news from you.
tks,
Maria Lúcia
Sei brava e poi ho seguito il suggerimento di Elisabetta Sforza
Hi Sarah
Please can I know your place in Chennai. I am cerulean to learn. Thanks.. Walee
Fántastica tu página. Muchas gracias por compartirlo!
Love to learn how to make embroidery
Thank you very much for your explanations, everything looks simple with you.
I love your work! I wish I had half of your skills!
What do you use to mark your fabric as embroidery can not always be washed?
Do you make videos? Can’t seem to find any but I thought I you did.
Send me some new stitches.
Send me the stitches regularly.
Hi Sarah, I’m a big fan of your tutorials. I remember you mentioning that you are based out of Pune. If so, do you take classes for embroidery. I would be more than willing to join. Pls reply.
Great.,,
You want a embroidery logo design , Patch design, kids dress design or any type of other embroidery file visit for great work http://www.embroideryprince.com
Estou estudando os pontos e não encontrei o ponto Nó de Pérolas Fechado e também o Nó de Pérolas.Ao clicar sobre a imagem a pagina não abre.
Os pontos foram retirados?
Existe outro caminho para se chegar a eles?
Agradeço ajuda.
Rose
Querida Rose,
Por favor, encontre o ponto nó de pérola aqui: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/knots/pearl-stitch/
Vejo que o link de imagem está funcionando bem para ponto de pérola fechado. Verifique: https://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/knots/closed-pearl-stitch/
Eu espero que isso te ajude. Se você ainda enfrentar problemas, por favor me avise. -benzóico.
Sarah
I have been wanting to learn hand embroidery for quite some time. Is there a direct site I can go to, to follow you?
Thank you
Robin