The feather stitch uses thread to create decorative embroidered accenting on lines and hems of fabric.
The feather stitch creates a decorative accent to a fabric item, typically used to accentuate the lines of a hem or pocket. Appearing in embroidery books as early as the 1880s, feather stitch comes in several varieties and is sometimes referred to as briar stitch. The basic feather stitch is slightly intricate, but you will find it easier with practice, much like any embroidery stitch. A feather stitch can be worked with looped or straight stitches, depending on the outcome you desire.
Instructions
1. Mark a line on the fabric with an erasable fabric marker where you'd like the feather stitch to be located. The line will become the center of the feather stitch embroidery, so place the line accordingly, making it as long as the desired feather stitching.
2. Thread the needle, tying a knot near the end of the thread. Pull the needle and thread through the fabric from the back to the front, at the top of the marked line. Pull the thread through until the knot catches on the back side of the fabric.
3. Move over 1/4 inch down on the marked line and 1/4 inch to the left of the line. Insert the needle down through the fabric at this point, but do not pull all of the thread through.
4. Bring the needle up to the line again, 1/4 inch below the original place the thread was pulled through. Pull the needle up through the fabric, hooking the thread behind the needle. Pull all of the thread through the fabric.
5. Continue to make stitches in this manner down the left side of the marked line. At the end of the line, knot the thread on the wrong side of the fabric and cut the thread.
6. Thread the needle once again and repeat the same stitching process on the right side of the marked line.
7. Erase the marked line on the fabric according to the fabric marker's instructions.
Related posts
A very old embroidery stitch, the coral stitch is found throughout English crewel work of the 1600s and 1700s. The coral stitch makes a line that resembles a row of knots. This stitch is also call...
Peacock feathers are an ideal icon to center a handmade necklace.Peacock feathers are a natural choice for making a necklace. The vibrant hues of blue and green create an elegant, feminine accesso...
The Open Cretan is a variation of the Cretan stitch, a long-armed stitch, which is used as a line stitch or a border stitch. It's also used to couch varying weights of thread to the foundation fab...
Chevron and feather patterns add interest and flair to knitted projects.Chevrons and feathers are among the many patterns that can be created with knitting. Chevrons, which look like V's, are part...
Modern icing can be traced back to 18th century England where it started as a decorative glaze. It was called icing because it was supposed to look like ice when finished. As confectionary delight...
