How to do the Lock Stitch - Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials

About the Lock Stitch.

The Lock Stitch is a wonderfully decorative stitch that can be used to create beautiful border designs. The weaving over the foundation follows the technique used in the Cable Stitch, with the needle always passing in one direction—left to right or right to left. Basically, this is the Cable Stitch made over a foundation of straight stitches, giving it a higher profile.

How to do the Lock Stitch


Fig 1: Start by laying a foundation of straight stitches. Come out from one corner of the foundation row.	Fig 2: Pass the needle under the first stitch as shown. Keep the thread above while doing so.

Fig 3: Next, pass the needle under the next straight stitch, but this time, keep the thread below. This is a pattern we follow in the Cable Stitch technique.	Fig 4: Repeat by passing the needle under the third stitch with the working thread above.

Fig 5: Continue this process of passing the needle under each stitch without plucking the fabric. Keep the thread above and below the needle for every alternate passing.	Fig 6: Finish off the stitch by taking in the needle in through the fabric close to the last foundation stitch.

Fig 7: A finished segment would look like this.