Twisted chain stitch is a fun "twist" on the classic chain stitch, and provides for a unique way to follow a curve when stitching vines or wreaths!
In this post, I've provided written and photo instructions, as well as a brief, step-by-step video tutorial at the very end (feel free to scroll all the way to the bottom, if video tutorials work best for you!)
One piece of advice I have for this stitch goes out to those of you who already know how to do the regular (or reversed) chain stitch. Yes, this stitch "feels" very similar to chain stitch, both in its finished effect and, to a degree, its execution. At the same time, I think this stitch can be difficult to learn when you're expecting it to be *just* like chain stitch because, well, it isn't! That's why I recommend that you approach this stitch as the unique technique that it ultimately is.
Step 1: Gather your supplies and draw your guidelines.
I'm using a linen blend fabric and a heat-erasable pen to draw my guideline.
Twisted chain stitch can also be worked in a straight line, but for the purposes of this demonstration I chose to follow a slight curve!
I'll be using all six strands of cotton embroidery floss, but you can use however many strands you like.
Step 2: Bring your needle up through your fabric, on the guideline, and pull.
Step 3: Bring your needle back down through your fabric, just to the left of your first stitch, leaving a loop.
Step 4: Bring your needle up through your fabric, on your guideline, just above your first stitch.
Step 5: Twist your loop, put it over your needle, and pull.
Now you have your first twisted chain stitch!
Step 6: To continue your line of stitching, bring your needle down just to the left of your last stitch (and just above your last "tail"); again, leaving a loop.
Step 7: Bring your needle back up on the guideline, just above your first twisted chain stitch. Twist your loop before placing it over your needle, and pull.
You'll continue these steps until you reach the end of your line of stitching.
Step 8: Once you're done with your line of stitching, you can secure your last stitch by bringing your needle down just above your last loop.
Here's what a finished line of twisted chain stitch might look like! As with other stitches, yours might look different from mine depending on how many strands of floss you used, how short you made your stitches, and other choices you made along the way.
Video tutorial for twisted chain stitch
If you're the kind of stitcher who finds video tutorials (like the one below) to be easier to follow, make sure to take a look at the embroidery kits I have available, most of which include full-length, stitch-by-stitch video tutorials.
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