Straight Stitch - Learn This Modern Embroidery Technique

This image shows straight stitch stitched on fabric.

Introduction

This technique is super simple – it's all about creating a single stitch, either on its own or grouped up to create a design. For example, you could make a simple leaf using just one Straight Stitch.

Or get creative and fan out a group of Straight Stitches from one point to shape a star. I think of it as the basic building block for lots of embroidery techniques– for instance, if you work a bunch of Straight Stitches along a line, you've created a Running Stitch. And if you line them up side by side, you're building up Satin Stitch.

The thing that sets the Straight Stitch apart from the rest, is that each stitch stands alone, not used for drawing lines or filling spaces.

There aren’t any hard and fast rules around this technique, it’s really flexible.

You can adjust the length of your Straight Stitches however you like. Just a heads up: if you make them super long (like over an inch), they might get a bit wavy or snag on stuff.

Let’s try it out:

Step 1

Start by bringing your needle up from the back of the fabric to the front, right where you want your first stitch to begin. Gently pull the working thread through to the front, so that your knot secures the thread at the back.

Step 2

Next, poke your needle back down through the fabric at the end point of the first stitch.

A needle pokes down at the end of a stitch.

Step 3

Gently pull the working thread through to the back (no need to pull it super tight). See how you’ve made a single stitch that lays flat against the fabric? That’s your first Straight Stitch, easy peasy!

A Straight Stitch is created on a fabric back.

Step 4

Bring your needle up at the start of the nearest stitch, and back down again at the end of that stitch. Now you’ve created a second Straight Stitch, well done!

A needle pokes down at the end of a second stitch.

Step 5

Keep following this process to work all of your Straight Stitches.

2 Straight stitches have been created in the fabric.

Step 6

When you've finished, secure and tidy away your thread.

Video examples:

In these videos, I’ve shared some cool ways to use Straight Stitch, which you will hopefully find really helpful.

Examples of Straight Stitch in my patterns

Let's look at some examples of how you can use this awesome foundation stitch in your work!

First up, here's my Five Flowers pattern. See the straight stitches that make some leaves?

This is an image of the beginner's pattern Five Flowers,' with the leaves created using straight stitch.

Next, here's my Winter Wonderland pattern. See the detailed conifer trees? Those are made up with a whole bunch of little Straight Stitches. Pretty cool huh?!

Trees from the Winter Wonderland pattern use straight stitches to make up the leaves.

Finally, here's my Daisy Blooms pattern. Did you realise that the beautiful golden accents on each petal are Straight Stitches? In this case, the stitches are added right over the top of the cream Satin Stitch that fills the petals. It really makes these petals pop!

Straight stitches make up the accents on the petals in the Daisy Blooms pattern.

Conclusion

Congratulations, I am so happy that you have learnt how to do the simplest of all modern embroidery stitches, straight stitch! This is a great basis for all the other embroidery stitches you are going to learn on your modern embroidery journey. Plus, it will also hold you in good stead for many beginner modern embroidery patterns.

So there you have it, all the steps you will need to do a straight stitch!

What's next?

Our beginner embroidery kits are a favourite among new stitchers for their simple, step-by-step instructions and beautiful designs that make learning easy and fun. Whether you’ve been wanting to learn embroidery or are just searching for your next creative hobby. These kits are the perfect introduction to embroidery.

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