Embellish with Chain Stitch

I like to add fine details to my costumes, but ribbon is hard to find in very thin widths, 
so I resort to embroidering the edging lines using a chain-stitch. I've used it often.

These two little dresses have both been embellished with chain-stitch embroidery.

If you look very closely you can see that the embroidery is made up of a series of 
connected loops - a chain - hence the name "chain-stitch"

For my doll costuming I usually embroider with just two strands of embroidery floss, but for demonstration and photography purposes I will use the full six strands with a large darning needle.

Instructions

1. Knot end of thread, and insert needle where you want to start the row of chain-stitching

2. Insert needle in same spot where it came up out of the fabric, and reemerge at a short distance

3. Pass the thread end, which is coming up out of the fabric, under the needle

4. Pull needle, pulling thread to make loop

5. Continue to pull thread until you make a small loop - not too tight

6. Insert needle into same spot it came up last time, and reemerge the same distance as before

7. Pass thread under needle, and pull thread to make loop.

8. When loop is the same small size as first loop, reinsert the needle into the same spot it just came up out of. Pass thread under needle

9. Continue working in same manner until embroidered line is finished - or you run out of thread. To end chain, insert needle down outside of end of last chain and tie off underneath.

Some more examples of chain-stitch embellishment...

Double row gold chain-stitch along sleeve and neckline, as well as bodice curlicues.

Carmine chain-stitch along dress front, edges of dagged sleeves, and on headdress.

Gold chain-stitch along bodice edges

Red chain-stitch around 
vest edges.

Copyright © 2012 Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

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