Plaited Fly Stitch
Plaited Fly Stitch is a decorative variation of Fly Stitch that looks great on borders or for embellishing outlines. The method of embroidering this stitch is very straightforward—the row of Y stitches is positioned so that the top V part of the stitch overlaps over the previous stitch, creating crossed areas.
Other names of the stitch
This stitch is also called plaited Y stitch.
Applications of the Plaited Fly Stitch
This hand embroidery technique creates ornamented thick lines. You can use it for borders, decorated outlines, or textural filling by positioning the rows of stitches close to each other.
The stitch takes curves and round shapes well and is often used to embellish the neck part of the garments and the seams.
More stitches from the Fly Stitch family
Learn how to embroider the Plaited Fly Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Plaited Fly Stitch stitch in no time. 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 Plaited Fly Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
Instructions
1. Mark the line where you want to position your stitches. Take the needle to the surface at the left top corner and make a stitch to the right. Leave the loop of the working thread open.
2. Take the needle to the surface inside the loop, one stitch below, between the loop’s ends. Pull the thread to form a V shape.
3. Make a straight stitch down to form a Y shape.
4. Take the needle to the surface on the top mark, inside the previous stitch.
5. Make a stitch to the right and repeat the steps to create a Y stitch.
6. Add as many overlapping Y stitches as you need to fill the marked area.
Video tutorial
Tools and materials I used for this sampler
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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.
