Open Filling Stitches for Embroidery

Open filling stitches are embroidery techniques used to partially fill larger sections of a design while intentionally leaving the ground fabric visible between the stitches. This creates a lighter, airier effect than solid fills, adding texture, pattern, and visual interest without completely covering the fabric.

Open fillings are ideal for suggesting shading, creating decorative backgrounds, or giving a design a more delicate, lace-like appearance.

Some examples of open filling stitches are Jacobean Couching or Bosnian Stitch. Note that some of the filling stitches can be both open and fully covering. It will depend on the density of the stitches you make. For example, you cam make Burden Stitch very dense and cover the fabric entirely or you can leave space between the stitches and let some fabric show.

Open Filling Stitches for Embroidery page cover image

List of open filling stitches

Open filling stitches for hand embroidery on YouTube

If you are a visual learner and prefer learning hand embroidery techniques with video tutorials, check out my YouTube channel! I have a full playlist dedicated to open filling stitches for hand embroidery!

Reversed Fly Stitch Tutorial | Hand Embroidery Stitch for Beginners

How to Embroider Double Herringbone Stitch | Easy Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

How to Embroider the Breton Stitch | Twisted Herringbone Stitch Tutorial for Decorative Borders

Double Rice Stitch Tutorial | Hand Embroidery Filling | Easy Double Seed Stitch for Beginners

Knotted Cretan Stitch Tutorial | Step-by-Step Hand Embroidery Guide

How to Embroider Battlement Couching | Step-by-Step Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

Otomi Stitch Tutorial | Learn Tenango Embroidery with Herringbone Stitch Technique

Chevron Stitch Filling Tutorial | Hand Embroidery for Beginners

How to Embroider Cloud Filling Stitch | Easy Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

Hand Embroidery Stitch for Beautiful Borders – Long and Short Cretan Stitch

Heart Chain Stitch – Easy Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

Open Cretan Stitch Tutorial – Easy Hand Embroidery for Beginners

Double Cretan Stitch Tutorial – Easy Decorative Hand Embroidery Stitch

How to Embroider Bosnian Stitch | Easy Double-Sided Embroidery Tutorial for Borders & Fillings

How to Do Couching Stitch Filling | Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

How to Embroider the Herringbone Square Stitch | Decorative Hand Embroidery Tutorial

How to Embroider Chain Stitch Filling | Easy Hand Embroidery Tutorial for Beginners

How to Stitch Honeycomb Trellis Filling | Decorative Hand Embroidery Tutorial

Plaid Filling Stitch – Easy Hand Embroidery Tutorial

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

Triangular Turkish Stitch Tutorial: Double Sided Filling Technique For Hand Embroidery

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Projects to practice hand embroidery on this Blog

9 Ways To Embroider Leaves Step-by-step Hand Embroidery Tutorial

9 Ways To Embroider Leaves: Free PDF Pattern + Step-by-step Hand Embroidery Tutorial

Beginner Embroidery Stitches Cactus sampler

Beginner Embroidery Stitches + Free Cactus Hand Embroidery Sampler To Learn Basics

Blue Quilt Embroidery PDF with 12 filling stitches

Blue Quilt – Embroidery PDF Pattern – 12 Stitches For Filling

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