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Cable chain stitch icon
Cable chain stitch

  • Cable stitch
Cable chain stitch main image

Cable chain stitch consists of alternate straight stiches and loops so that the finished stitch looks like a length of metal chain.

A variant of chain stitch; for more information see the entry for chain stitch.

Cable chain stitch is generously sponsored by Margaret Bateman

Method

1

Bring the needle and thread to the surface and wrap the needle with the base of the thread

2

Take the needle down through the fabric a few millimetres ahead, leaving a loop on the surface.

3

Bring the needle up through the fabric within the loop.

4

Tighten the loop around the needle from the underside before bringing the thread up through the fabric

5

Repeat the last 4 steps to complete another link

6

Continue to repeat these steps to form more links to produce a cable chain

Cable chain stitch

Structure of stitch

Embroidery Techniques

Identifying Cable chain stitch

The straight stitch is actually more like a Pistil stitch (with a single wrap) and from certain angles the curve of the knot is visible.

The reverse of the stitch looks like a line of running stitch.

References

  • Anchor Embroidery, 100 Embroidery Stitches
  • Kate Haxell, The Stitch Bible (2012)
  • Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004)
  • Sarah Whittle, The Needlecraft Stitch Directory (2012)
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.28