Feathered Chain Stitch
Feathered Chain Stitch is a motif stitch from the Chain Stitch family used for wide borders. It is formed by positioning Long Tailed Chain stitches in a zig-zag-shaped line.
Other names of the stitch
Sometimes, the stitch is also called Chained Feather Stitch.
Applications of the Feathered Chain Stitch
This decorative hand embroidery technique is often used for decorative borders and edges. It can also be used in botanical embroidery or to embellish garments and home textiles.
The stitch can be worked in straight lines or on curves. You can adjust the angle of the zig-zag shape to adapt to the curves and manage the density of the stitches.
More stitches from the Chain Stitch family
Learn how to embroider Feathered Chain Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Feathered Chain 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 Feathered Chain Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
Instructions
1. Mark two parallel lines to guide the stitches. To make a diagonal long-tailed Chain stitch, take the needle to the surface and pull the thread through. Push the needle down to the same hole to form a loop.
2. Take the needle up inside the loop halfway to form a diagonal long-tailed Chain stitch.
3. Make a tail of the stitch. Push the needle down a tiny distance away from the marked line.
4. Take the needle up on the line beside the anchoring stitch of the first chain.
5. Make the next diagonal long-tailed Cain stitch. This time, it is slanted to the left.
6. Continue adding diagonal stitches in a zig-zag manner until your design is done.
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. So, grab your hoop and needle, and let’s stitch our way to creative bliss!
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Need More Guidance?
The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.
