I hope you find this needlework dictionary useful and with it able to improve your hand embroidery skills.

To assist those who are new to the craft of hand embroidery I have categorised each stitch as to its degree of difficulty. An icon of a single pair of scissors indicates that the stitch is easy to work and you should not hesitate to try it. If you are new to learning needlework. If you see two scissors, the stitch requires more skill. Three scissors indicate that the stitch needs skill and practice.

A TIP FOR LEFT HANDERS:

If you normally have problems following embroidery illustrations the computer can help you. Copy and save the image. In a graphics program flip the image horizontally so that you have a mirror image. Work from this and you will find it makes sense and feels right!

Contents:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

B

Back Stitch:
Back stitch threaded see Threaded back stitch:
Back stitch whipped see Whipped back stitch
Back stitched spider's web see Whipped spiders wheel
Barb Stitch:
Barred Chain:
Basque Stitch:
Basque Knot stitch
Basque Loop stitch see Basque Knot stitch
Bead edging stitch see Rosette chain
Beaded stitch see Coral stitch
Berlin stitch see cross stitch
Berwick Stitch:
Blanket stitch see buttonhole stitch
Blanket stitch up and down see Up and down buttonhole
Bonnet stitch
Braid chain see Heavy chain
Briar stitch see feather stitch
Broad chain stitch see Reversed chain stitch
Bullion Knot:
Bullion stitch see Bullion knot
Butterfly chain
Buttonhole Bar:
Buttonhole Wheel:
Buttonhole:
Buttonhole stitch: Bonnet
Buttonhole stitch: Buttonhole Bar:
Buttonhole barb stitch see Barb stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Berwick Stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Closed Buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Closed Feather stitch
Buttonhole stitch: Crossed buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Detached Buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Feather stitch
Buttonhole Stitch: Feathered up and down buttonhole
Buttonhole stitch: Mirrored (Up and down buttonhole)
Buttonhole stitch: Rosette of Thorns.
Buttonhole stitch: Up and down buttonhole
Buttonhole Stitch: Up and down buttonhole feathered
Buttonhole stitch: Wheel

C

Casalguidi
Cast on Stitch:
Cast on stitch Double see Double cast on stitch
Castelguidi see Casalguidi
Catch stitch see herringbone stitch
Caterpillar stitch see Bullion knot
Chain Stitch:
Chain stitch Alternating barred chain
Chain stitch Barred chain
Chain stitch butterfly see Butterfly chain
Chain stitch detached see Detached chain
Chain stitch feathered see Feathered chain
Chain stitch Heavy chain
Chain stitch open see Open chain
Chain stitch Oyster see Oyster stitch
Chain stitch Reversed
Chain stitch Rosette see Rosette chain
Chain stitch twisted see Twisted chain
Chain stitch whipped see Whipped chain
Chain stitch zig zag see Zig Zag chain
Chained feather stitch see feathered chain stitch
Chevron Stitch:
Chevron stitch half
Chinese stitch see Pekinese stitch
Closed Buttonhole:
Closed Feather Stitch:
Colonial Knot
Coil stitch see Bullion knot
Convent stitch see couching
Coral knot see Coral stitch
Coral Stitch:
Couching or Simple Laid Work:
Cretan Stitch:
Cretan stitch: Open Cretan Stitch
Cretan stitch: Knotted Cretan Stitch
Crewel stitch see stem stitch
Cross Stitch
Cross stitch alternating see Alternating Cross:
Cross stitch Double cross stitch
Cross stitch Half
Cross stitch Long arm cross stitch
Cross stitch Montenegrin
Cross stitch Quarter
Cross stitch Rice stitch
Crossed Buttonhole:
Crossed corners see Rice stitch

D

Daisy stitch see detached chain stitch
Damask stitch see satin stitch
Detached Buttonhole:
Detached Chain:
Double Cast on stitch
Double Cross:
Double knot stitch see Palestrina stitch
Double Herringbone 2:
Double Herringbone:
Double running stitch Interlaced (version 1):
Double running stitch Interlaced (version 2):
Double running stitch Interlaced (version 3):
Drizzle stitch

E

Eyelet Stitch

F

Feather Stitch:
Feathered Chain:
Feathered up and down buttonhole stitch
Fern Stitch:
Figure eight knot see Colonial Knot
Fly Stitch:
Fly stitch Closed see Closed fly stitch,
Fly stitch Plaited see Plaited fly stitch,
Fly stitch Reversed see Reversed fly stitch version 1
Fly stitch Reversed Reversed fly stitch version 2
Fly stitch threaded see Threaded Fly stitch,
Fly stitch Threaded reverse see Threaded reversed fly stitch,
Fly stitch Whipped see Whipped fly stitch,
Fly stitch whipped reverse see Whipped reversed fly stitch
French dot see French Knot
French Knot:

G

German knot stitch see Coral stitch
Ghiordes Knot:
Greek stitch see long arm cross stitch
Grub knot see Bullion knot

H

Half Chevron stitch
Half cross stitch see cross stitch
Heavy Braid chain see Heavy chain
Heavy chain
Herringbone:
Herringbone double version 1see Double Herringbone 1
Herringbone double version 2 see Double Herringbone 2

I

Indian herringbone stitch see double herringbone (version 1)
Interlaced Running:

J

K

Kensington outline stitch see split stitch
Kloster stitch see couching
Knot stitch see Bullion knot
Knotted stitch see Coral stitch
Knotted stitch see French Knot
Knotted Cretan:
Knotted loop stitch see Basque Knot stitch
Knotted Pearl stitch see Reversed Palestrina stitch

L

Ladder stitch see open chain stitch
Laid Work see couching
Lazy daisy stitch see Detached chain stitch
Long legged cross stitch see long arm cross stitch
Long-armed Cross:
Long-armed feather stitch see Cretan stitch
Long-armed fly stitch see Fly stitch
Loop stitch see detached chain stitch

M

Mirrored buttonhole see Up and Down Buttonhole stitch
Mirrored buttonhole feathered see Feathered up and down buttonhole
Montenegrin:
Mossoul stitch see herringbone stitch

N

O

Old English knot stitch see Palestrina stitch
Open Chain Stitch:
Open Cretan:
Open loop stitch see fly stitch
Outline Stitch:
Oyster stitch:

P

Padded Satin:
Palestrina stitch
Palestrina stitch Basque Knot
Palestrina stitch Reversed
Palestrina stitch Sorbello
Palestrina stitch Triple
Pearl stitch see Reversed Palestrina stitch
Pekinese:
Persian stitch see Cretan stitch
Persian stitch see herringbone stitch
Plaited Slav stitch see long arm cross stitch
Plaited stitch see herringbone stitch
Point de chainette see chain stitch
Point de marque see cross stitch
Point de sable see back stitch
Porto Rico rose see Bullion knot
Portuguese stitch see long arm cross stitch
Post stitch see Bullion knot

Q

R

Raised spider's web wheel see whipped spiders wheel
Renaissance stitch:
Reversed chain stitch
Ribbed wheel see whipped spiders wheel
Rice Stitch:
Roman chain stitch see open chain stitch
Rosette chain;
Rosette of Thorns
Running Stitch:
Running Stitch- Interlaced Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Interlaced Double Running Stitch No 1
Running Stitch- Interlaced Double Running Stitch No 2
Running Stitch- Interlaced Double Running Stitch No 3
Running Stitch- Stepped Threaded Running Stitch (version 1)
Running Stitch- Stepped Threaded Running Stitch (version 2)
Running Stitch- Threaded Running Stitch
Running Stitch- Whipped Running Stitch
Russian cross stitch see herringbone stitch
Russian stitch see herringbone stitch

S

Sampler stitch see cross stitch
Satin Stitch:
Scottish Stitch:
Scroll Stitch:
Sham hem stitch see threaded arrowhead
Single coral stitch see feather stitch
Single feather stitch see feather stitch
Single knot tufting see Ghiordes knot
Single knotted line stitch see scroll stitch
Single knotted Smyrna rug stitch see Ghiordes knot
Slav stitch see long arm cross stitch
Smyrna stitch see Palestrina stitch
Snail trail see Coral stitch
Sorbello Stitch
South Kensington stitch see stem stitch
Spider's web see woven spiders wheel
Split Stitch:
Square chain stitch see open chain stitch
Stalk stitch see stem stitch
Star eyelet stitch see Algerian Eye
Star stitch see Algerian Eye
Stem Stitch:
Stepped and Threaded Running Stitch (version 1):
Stepped and Threaded Running Stitch (version 2):
Straight or Single Satin:
Stroke stitch see straight stitch

T

Tall chain stitch see detached chain stitch
Tambour stitch see chain stitch
Threaded Arrowhead:
Threaded Back:
Threaded Fly Stitch:
Threaded reverse fly stitch
Threaded Running:
Tied coral stitch see Palestrina stitch
Tied coral stitch see Reversed Palestrina stitch
Tied loop stitch see detached chain stitch
Tufted knot stitch see Ghiordes knot
Turkey rug knot see Ghiordes knot
Twilling Stitch see Palestrina stitch
Twilling Stitch see Reversed Palestrina stitch
Twist stitch see long arm cross stitch
Twisted Chain:
Twisted daisy border see Basque stitch
Twisted daisy stitch see Basque stitch
Twisted knot stitch see French Knot
Twisted Lattice Band:

U

Up and down blanket stitch see Up and Down Buttonhole
Up and Down Buttonhole stitch
Up and down buttonhole stitch feathered

V

Vandyke chain stitch see zigzag chain

W

Wheatear:
Wheel stitch see buttonhole wheel
Whipped attached fly stitch see Whipped Fly:
Whipped Back Stitch:
Whipped Chain:
Whipped Fly:
Whipped reverse fly stitch
Whipped Running:
Whipped Spider's Wheel:
Whipped Stem
William and Mary stitch see Rice stitch
Witch stitch see herringbone stitch
Worm stitch see Bullion knot
Wound stitch see French Knot
Woven Spiders Wheel
Woven spoke stitch see woven spiders wheel
Woven spot see woven spiders wheel
Woven wheel see woven spiders wheel

XYZ

Y' stitch see fly stitch
Zigzag Chain:
Zigzag sham hem stitch see threaded arrowhead

Sharon b's Dictionary of Stitches for Hand Embroidery and Needlework