Oyster Stitch
Oyster Stitch is a decorative hand embroidery technique from the Chain Stitch family. It has an oval shape and is filled with an eight-shaped laced motif. To make this detached decorative stitch, you will have to combine a Twisted Chain Stitch and a Chain Stitch.
On the reverse side of the Oyster stitch, you will see two parallel straight stitches.
Applications of the Oyster Stitch
This hand embroidery stitch creates a fuller and wider version of the Detached Chain Stitch. You can use it as a decorative element – alone or in combination with other stitches and for making powdered fillings.
Oyster stitch is often used in botanical embroidery – you can group the stitches in circles to form small flowers, embroider them around the center for bigger floral motives, or use the stitches to depict small leaves on the branches.
Combining Oyster titch with simple border stitches creates decorative border embellishments.
More stitches from Stitch family
Learn how to embroider Oyster Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Oyster 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 Oyster Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
1. Start with a twisted Chain stitch. Take the needle to the surface, pull the thread through, and push it back to the fabric to the left, slightly below the starting point.
2. You will form a loop with one leg that is slightly longer than the other. Pull the thread through to the surface, but do not anchor this stitch.
3. Instead, pass the needle under the longer leg of the stitch.
4. Pull the thread through to get this shape of eight with an additional loop of thread.
5. Push the needle to the surface inside the space between the twisted chain stitch and the loop. Pull the thread to the back, but leave a loop of the working thread open.
6. Take the needle back to the surface at the bottom of the stitch, inside the working thread loop.
7. Tighten the loop and anchor the stitch with a small anchoring stitch.
8. If you wish to embroider a flower, position all your Oyster stitches in a circle from the same starting point.
Video tutorial
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.
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 basic embroidery stitches to complex and playful variations of classical techniques, a whole world of stitches is waiting for you to explore and master. So, grab your hoop and needle, and let’s stitch together!
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Need More Guidance?
The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.
