Sorbello Stitch

Sorbello Stitch is a counted thread hand embroidery technique from the Palestrina stitch family. This stitch combines a Straight stitch and two Blanket stitches knotted around the horizontal straight stitch. Due to this embroidery method, Sorbello Stitch looks like a Cross Stitch with a decorative knot in the middle.

Normally, Sorbello Stitch is embroidered from left to right or from top downwards. This creates diagonal stitches on the back side of the fabric. You can also change the direction of the stitches (right to left), which is very convenient when filling in rows. This will result in longer jumping threads on the back.

Other names of the Sorbello Stitch

In the Italian Renaissance embroidery, this stitch was called Punto Umbro. Nowadays, this counted thread hand embroidery technique is also called Sorbello Knot Stitch.

Sorbello Stitch embroidery with blue pearl cotton threads

Sorbello Stitch embroidery back side — Rear side of the sampler

Applications of the Sorbello Stitch

Traditionally, Sorbello Stitch is used in canvas work and other counted thread techniques. But you can use this embroider stitch on even weave fabrics, too. Stitchers use this decorative embroidery technique in surface embroidery and Crazy quilting. Simply draw two parallel lines and embroider square stitches between them. The lines can be straight or slightly curved.

Sorbello Stitch looks great as a detached decorative stitch, too. It can depict flowers, fruit, stars, and other small decorative objects. Positioned in rows, it works as a technique for decorative borders and edges.

If you want to use Sorbello Stitch for filling, draw a grid and use it as guidelines for the stitches. You can make a semi-covering filling by positioning the stitches in an alternated manner. For fully covering filling, embroider a stitch in each square.

In Cross stitch embroidery, you can substitute some stitches with a Sorbello Stitch and create more textural filling, emphasizing some parts of the design.

More stitches from the Palestrina stitch family

Learn how to embroider Sorbello Stitch

Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Sorbello Stitch quickly. If you are a visual learner, watch a video lesson in the tutorial or on the Practical Embroidery YouTube channel to learn this hand embroidery stitch faster.

How to embroider Sorbello Stitch

Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial

Mark the grid
I marked the line of the 1×1 cm squares for the row of stitches and a 0.5 x 0.5 cm grid for filling.
Make a Straight stitch
Take the needle up on the top left corner of the shape and make a horizontal straight stitch.
Make a knot
Take the needle up on the bottom left corner of the square.
Make the first Blanket stitch
Pass the needle under the Straight stitch from the top downwards but above the working thread. Pull it down to position the knot in the center of the stitch.
Make the second Blanket stitch
Pass the needle under the Straight stitch from the top downwards for the second time. The thread comes above the working thread, which forms the knot.
Finish the stitch
Take the needle down at the bottom right corner of the square. This forms the fourth leg of the stitch.
Semi-covering filling
Fill every second square of the grid to create a chess-like semi-covering textural filling. The first row is embroidered from left to right. For the second row – change the direction and move from right to left. You can also move in the vertical direction.
Fully-covering filling
To make the filling that covers the fabric completely, fill each square of the grid with a Sorbello Stitch. You can make all the stitches of the same color or use contrasting colors for a playful visual effect.

Video tutorial

Sorbello Stitch: Step-by-Step Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

Tools and materials I used for this sampler

Disclaimer. To cover the cost of creating free embroidery patterns and video tutorials for this blog, I do sometimes link to products. Please assume these links are affiliate links. If you choose to buy through my links then THANK YOU – it will make it possible for me to keep doing this.

Embroidery fabric cotton linen neutral colors Etsy — Embroidery fabric

What’s next?

If you’re in the mood to explore more hand embroidery stitches, check out the Stitches and Techniques page for the list of other fantastic stitches available on my blog. From timeless classics to modern twists, a whole world of stitches is waiting for you to explore and master. So, grab your hoop and needle, and let’s stitch our way to creative bliss!