Chain Stitch // Hand Embroidery Stitches

Overview

Chain stitch consists of a series of interlocking loops, each held in place by the next.

The Chain Stitch is the foundational and simplest stitch within the Chain Stitch family. It creates a linked line, reminiscent of a chain or petals lined up in succession. This stitch is one of the oldest known and has been extensively used across numerous cultures, spanning from Asia to Europe. Its presence in embroidery traditions highlights its versatility and timeless appeal, making it a staple in the world of needlework. Whether used as an outline or for filling, the Chain Stitch continues to be a favorite among both novice and experienced embroiderers, cherished for its simplicity and elegance.

Method

There are two ways of stitching the Chain stitch (the other is known as the Reverse Chain Stitch). So if you know how to stitch a similar looking stitch a different way, you're not necessarily doing it wrong!

History

Chain stitch is one of the oldest and most widely recognized stitches. Examples have been discovered on textiles from Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, dating back to the 14th century BC, and on embroideries from Pazyryk tombs (4th-3rd century BC) in southern Siberia, likely originating from China. Later evidence from China shows that chain stitch was the most prevalent stitch there until the T’ang dynasty towards the end of the first millennium AD.

Archaeological finds from Berenike, Egypt, and Mammen, Denmark, dating from the 4th and 10th centuries respectively, indicate its continued use. By the medieval period, chain stitch appeared in Opus Teutonicum whitework (centered in Germany, Switzerland, and southern Scandinavia), in Icelandic embroidery, and on the 13th-century Syon Cope.

From the 17th century onward, Jacobean crewel work in Britain used chain stitch both as an outline and a filling stitch. By the early 18th century, it was a typical stitch in American Candlewick embroidery.