Sunday, 25 May 2025

Sunday Stitch School - Lesson 325: Long and Short Stitch

It is time to fill in a gap in my collection of stitches. Here is one of the basic and most important stitches that I have not yet added. The Long and Short Stitch. 

In my opinion, the best instructions can be found at RSN's Stitch Bank. You can also see photos in A-Z of Embroidery Stitches volume 1.

I have added my own photo tutorial here:

Draw the outline.


Secure the thread with a waste knot and a few 

short stitches.


Cut off the waste knot.


Now, use Split Stitch along the outline.




Draw in the lines to guide the angle of the 

Long and Short stitches


Come out from inside the shape.

Then insert the needle just outside the Split Stitch line.


Repeat but take a shorter stitch on either side.


Continue to alternate long and shot stitches until you have 
filled in the area you wanted. 

Change to a different shade of thread.

Work in the opposite direction. Start in the outer areas,

between the long and short stitches. Insert the needle

in the centre void.



Add another shade, if you want more gradation.


Continue as before.


I finished off with an orange thread.



Homework: Try to add here. It will be difficult, if not

impossible to work on the Aida fabric.










4 comments:

Pamela said...

This is a great stitch for leaves and petals.

Angela said...

Your leaf is so pretty. I think I might struggle with getting the spacing right on this very simple stitch.

Rachel said...

One of my least favourite stitches, although it can be very beautiful!

Janie said...

Long and Short Stitch is super useful and effective. Good tutorial.