Closed Feather Stitch
Closed Feather Stitch is a variation of the Feather Stitch that looks like a row of equilateral triangles embroidered between two parallel guidelines- a zig-zag line between two borders.
Instead of embroidering classical V-shaped stitches, we connect each new stitch to the previous stitch, closing the shape and forming a triangle. You can adjust the sizes of triangles by making the stitches wider or longer.
On the back side of the fabric, Closed Feather Stitch embroidery appears as two lines of Back Stitch.
Applications of the Closed Feather Stitch
Closed Feather Stitch is a classical band stitch worked on straight and curved lines. You can use it for embellishment of garments or home textiles. It will look great on collars, cuffs, or the edges of napkins. You can use it as it is or combine it with detached decorative stitches or beads to create decorative bands for embellishments.
In decorative surface embroidery, this technique depicts any object with a geometrical filling. Use it to embroider baskets, tree trunks, seaweeds, or textural backgrounds.
Closed Feather Stitch is also popular in crazy quilting. It works as both a decorative and a functional stitch, holding pieces of the quilt together.
More stitches from the Feather Stitch family
Learn how to embroider Closed Feather Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Closed Feather 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 Closed Feather Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
1. Mark two parallel lines for guiding. We will work from top downwards. Take the needle to the surface on the left mark, half a stitch below the starting point.
2. Make a stitch to the top point of the right marked line. Pull the thread through but leave the loop of the working thread open.
3. Take the needle back to the surface on the right line, one stitch under the entry point and inside the loop of the working thread. Pull the thread to the surface to tighten the loop.
4. Push the needle down at the same spot where the first stitch started. Pull the thread to the back, leaving the loop of the working thread open.
5. Get the needle to the surface on the left mark, one stitch below and inside the loop of the working thread. Pull the thread to tighten the loop and close the triangle.
6. Push the needle down on the right mark, at the same spot as the last stitch. Leave the loop of the thread open.
7. Get back to the surface at the right mark, one stitch below, inside the loop. This will shape the next triangle.
8. Repeat the steps creating triangles on both sides of the band. Close the last triangle with an anchoring stitch.
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 timeless classics to modern twists, a whole world of stitches is waiting for you to explore and master. Decorative stitches, techniques for filling and outlines, borders or mending – all in one place!
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Need More Guidance?
The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.
