Embroidery Tutorial: The Basic Stitches for Beginners

Learn three basic stitches with artist and embroiderer Mariah Escossia

Many people think that embroidery is a big deal. Like any technique, embroidery requires a lot of training and dedication, however, getting started can be easier than it looks.

Mariah Escossia (@bordadospraiaia) is the artist and embroiderer behind Bordados Pra Iaiá. She loves to experiment and mix creative techniques such as embroidery, watercolor, stonecraft, and is an expert in free embroidery.

In this tutorial, Mariah teaches three basic embroidery stitches: the backstitch, the split stitch, and the stem stitch. Check it out!

You will need:

- A needle
- Fabric
- An embroidery hoop
- Some stranded embroidery cotton

Back stitch

Take a piece of stranded embroidery cotton (which usually has 6 strands) and separate out two threads. Then add them to the two opposite threads so that you have four strands. Gather them together and thread them through your needle. Tie an invisible knot at the end of the thread.

To make your first stitch, insert the needle through the fabric from the back making sure you pull it all the way through. To create your first stitch, come through the right hand side and insert your needle through the loop you’ve just created.

Then to create your back stitch, push the needle back through the fabric from the front, and through the last hole. Make sure you space your stitches evenly to achieve a harmonious pattern.

Finish by creating a knot, push the needle back over your last stitch or through a stitch on the back. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to go through the thread on the back to avoid accidentally creating a random stitch. When you’re finished, trim away any excess thread.

Split stitch

A split stitch is a variation of the back stitch. Instead of stitching back down the previous hole, push the needle through the fabric half way through the previous stitch, ‘splitting’ the stitch in two (which is where the stitch gets its name).

Stem stitch

Insert the needle through the back and create a rope pattern. You can either stitch upwards or downwards, whichever works best. Support the thread as you turn the needle through the stitches then pull it tight.

Remember: the half-way point between the beginning and end of the stitch is the end of the previous stitch.

To finish, push the needle through the center of the stitch and return to the same hole. Then trim away any excess thread.

Love this tutorial? If you’d like to learn free embroidery techniques and add color and texture to your designs, don’t miss Mariah Escossia’s online course: Embroidered Portraits in Watercolor.

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