Pekinese stitch

Pekinese stitch is a decorative technique made of two combined stitches – the backstitch and decorative looping. First, embroider the backstitch and then lace it, forming the loops.

Other names of the stitch

Pekinese stitch has a lot of different names. It is also called Pekinese backstitch, Chinese stitch, blind knot, interlaced backstitch, and even forbidden stitch.

Embroidery tips:

• The sequence of the looping is critical! First, pass the needle under the second backstitch from down upwards, then under the first stitch from up downwards.
• When you make loops, remember that the needle never goes through the fabric or over the backstitch. The lacing is made between the material and the backstitch.
• You can embroider this stitch in one color or two different colors. That will create diverse decorative effects.
• You can also change up the size of the loops – make them small or big, and the size of the backstitch. If the backstitches are small – the looping will be dense and opposite – a bigger backstitch will create wider gaps between the loops.
• For lacing – use a blunt needle or the back of your working needle.

Applications of the Pekinese stitch:

• It is excellent for border designs. Use it to decorate the seams of garments or the borders of home textiles.
• Lettering made with a Pekinese stitch can be very decorative. Give it a try.

More stitches from the Backstitch family:

• Whipped backstitch
• Herringbone ladder
• Brick stitch

Video tutorial

Watch this video tutorial below and learn how to embroider a Pekinese stitch.

What’s next?

Looking for some other stitch? Head to the Stitches and Techniques part of this blog and choose the stitch you want to learn!

N.B. Some of the links may take you to the EasyToMake designs blog. This is my older hand embroidery blog. While I’m dedicating all of my energy to the Practical Embroidery blog, the previous version still has a lot of great content!