Lantern Stitch
Lantern Stitch is a decorative hand embroidery technique from the Straight Stitch family, in which stitches are grouped to create two connected triangles – resembling the shape of the lantern.
To embroider this stitch, make two sets of Radiating Stitch and then connect them with Backstitch.
On the back side, this hand embroidery technique will look like an incomplete Lantern Stitch, with missing side stitches.
Applications of the Lantern Stitch
Lantern Stitch is a decorative technique that you can embroider as detached elements, align into rows, or use to create a textural filling with stitches positioned close to each other.
This decorative needlework technique is used to decorate the edges of garments and home textiles. You can incorporate Lantern Stitch into your surface embroidery work as a decorative element or a part of a more complex design. Quilters also use this technique in crazy quilting to decorate seams and hold fabric pieces together.
More stitches from the Straight Stitch family
Learn how to embroider Lantern Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Lantern 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 Lantern Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
1. Mark two square shapes for guidance. Start from the center of the top square. Push the needle to the surface and make a straight stitch to the left corner of the top square.
2. Get back to the top center and make one more straight stitch. Plan the gaps between the stitches so you can make five equally spaced stitches.
3. Add the third stitch. This stitch is central and goes straight at the middle of the square shape.
4. Add the fourth straight stitch, moving to the right.
5. Finally, add the fifth stitch. It is diagonal, connecting the top center with the lower right corner.
6. Now add the second part of the stitch. Repeat the stitching sequence, but mirrored on the lower square.
7. On the central line between the shapes, the stitches will shape the same holes.
8. Finish all five spokes of the shape.
9. Then bring your needle to the surface at the point where the second stitch ends on the central line, and make a short stitch back to the finishing point of the first stitch.
10. Now return to the center and connect two more stitches with a small backstitch.
11. Use the same method to connect the remaining stitches. When done, all the diagonal stitches will be connected with tiny horizontal stitches.
12. You can use the same method and embroider a row of connected Lantern Stitch to create a decorative border. You can connect the stitches horizontally or vertically.
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.
