Burden Stitch

Burden Stitch is a decorative filling technique from the Couching Stitch family. Horizontal threads are couched to the surface with long vertical stitches offset between the rows. The density of the filling varies and can range from very dense stitches that fully cover the fabric to a decorative net that shows plenty of base material.

Other names of the Burden Stitch

Burden Stitch was named after Elizabeth Burden, who taught the stitch at the Royal School of Needlework (then the Royal School of Art Needlework) during the 1870s.

This hand embroidery technique is also called Cushion stitch and Tapestry stitch.

Burden Stitch embroidery with pearl cotton thread

Burden Stitch embroidery reverse side — Reverse side of the sampler

Applications of the Burden Stitch

Burden Stitch is a traditional embroidery technique for filling extensive areas of the fabric. The embroidery method is simple and relatively fast to make. Besides that, this embroidery technique allows for combining contrasting colors, color shading, and various densities, making it a versatile embroidery technique in classical and modern surface embroidery.

More stitches from the Couching Stitch family

Learn how to embroider Burden Stitch

Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Burden 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 Burden Stitch

Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial

Preparation
Define the area you want to fill with Burden stitch and mark equally distanced points for the horizontal stitches. Make the first horizontal stitch.
Make horizontal stitches
Make as many horizontal stitches as you need to fill the shape you are filling.
Mark vertical lines
Add vertical guiding lines. These will help you keep your stitches parallel.
Make the first couching stitch
Start in the middle of the shape and make the first couching stitch. The stitch should cover the length between three horizontal lines and pass above the middle horizontal stitch.
Add the second stitch
Decide on the density of the filling and make the second vertical stitch. Note that the space between the stitches must accommodate one more stitch from the next row.
Finish the line
Now add more equally distanced parallel vertical stitches to fill the entire row.
Return to the center of the row
Now, move from the right to the left and fill another side of the row with equally distanced parallel vertical stitches.
The second row of filling
Start in the middle of the shape. Take the needle up between two stitches from the first row and make a vertical stitch that covers the length between three horizontal lines and passes above the middle horizontal stitch.
Fill the shape
Continue adding the stitches and fill the entire row. Then, fill the next row until the shape is filled with couching stitches.
Make the compensating stitches
To finish the shape with a filling of the same density, make shorter couching stitches that couch the horizontal stitch but do not go out of the marked area.
Fill the second part of the design
Now, fill the second part of the shape. Add row after row till the entire design is filled with stitches.
Finish with a compensating row
Make shorter stitches to fill the final row of the design.

Video tutorial

Burden Stitch Embroidery Tutorial | Step-by-Step Guide for Stunning Hand Embroidery

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!