Tulip Stitch
Tulip Stitch is a decorative variation of the Chain Stitch – a detached Chain Stitch with an extra slipped stitch to form decorative petals. This stitch is simple to make and can add floral vibes to your borders or decorated seams.
Other names of the stitch
This hand embroidery stitch is also known as Slipped Detached Chain.
Applications of the Tulip Stitch
This hand embroidery technique is playful and versatile. You can embroider it as a detached stitch or in horizontal or vertical straight lines. Use this stitch for borders, to decorate the seams, or as an accent detached stitch. It will look great in floral design to create small tulip flowers or as a part of more significant floral motives.
You can also play with colors when embroidering this stitch. Make it in a single color with one or two slipped stitches, or add more colors (for slipped stitches) for a decorative and floral look.
More Stitches from the Chain Stitch family
Learn how to embroider Tulip Stitch
Follow the step-by-step tutorial with detailed photos below, and you will learn the Tulip 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 Tulip Stitch
Step-by-step hand embroidery tutorial
Instructions
1. Push the needle to the surface, pull the thread through, and push the needle back to the same hole. Leave the loop of the working thread open.
2. Take the needle to the surface, one stitch below the starting point, and inside the loop.
3. Pull the thread to the surface and tighten the loop. Make a short anchoring stitch. Now you have a detached Chain Stitch.
4. Take the needle to the surface on the left side and pull the thread up.
5. Pass the needle under the anchoring stitch to form a slipped stitch.
6. Take the needle down at the same distance from the Detached Chain Stitch to form a symmetrical tulip flower.
7. You can make two slipped stitches of different lengths. Also, a slipped stitch of a different color is a decorative option to add to the Tulip Stitch.
Tulip Stitch 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!
Don’t miss a thing!
Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Or why not subscribe to Practical Embroidery newsletter and get embroidery tips straight to your inbox every few weeks?
Projects to practice Tulip stitch
Need More Guidance?
The top 10 hand embroidery stitches to learn is a free online course created for beginners.
