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cord stitch icon
cord stitch

cord stitch main image

This stitch is used for joining two edges of fabric.  It consists of alternate diagonal stitches which cross each other to form a plaited effect which completely covers the joined edges.  Structurally, it is similar to basket stitch.

For a simpler joining stitch see antique seam stitch.

Cord stitch first appears in print in Mary Thomas’ 1937 Dictionary of embroidery stitches.

add_circleMy Stitches
Reversible Crossed Construction Basic Antique seam stitch

Cord Stitch is generously sponsored by Jane Bullivant

Method

The stitch is worked with the two pieces of fabric laid flat against each other, wrong sides together; if the fabric is liable to fray, fold a hem, otherwise use the cut edge.  Align the edges which you want to join.

The depth of your stitches should be governed by the type of fabric you are joining - if it is liable to fray, make your stitches deeper so that they are further from the edge of the fabric.  This example has been worked on canvas to show the working clearly.  Depending on the type of fabric, you may find that your stitches are too tight to flatten the fabric fully, in which case use a knitting needle or similar gauge laid along the edge of your fabric to increase the length of your stitches.

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1
cord stitch method stage 1 illustration
cord stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Place your two pieces of fabric against each other with their edges aligned and then work from left to right. Bring your thread through both pieces of fabric from back to front, a short distance from the edge.

2
cord stitch method stage 2 illustration
cord stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

If using a gauge, position it along the edge.  Take your thread over both fabric edges and insert your needle a short distance ahead from back to front. Pull through.

3
cord stitch method stage 3 illustration
cord stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Take your thread over both edges, crossing the previous stitch and bring it through to the front just in front of where the first stitch emerged.

4
cord stitch method stage 4 illustration
cord stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Continue making stitches in this way, alternately slanting forward and backwards, the needle is always taken from the back to the front of the fabric.

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cord stitch method stage 5 illustration
cord stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

After the first few stitches, you will find that you are sharing holes with previous stitches.

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cord stitch method stage 6 illustration
cord stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

Once you have finished, fasten off your thread and spread the two pieces of fabric so that they lie flat.

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cord stitch method stage 7 illustration
cord stitch method stage 7 photograph
7

The reverse of cord stitch.

Structure of stitch

Reversible Crossed

Common uses

Construction

Embroidery Techniques

Basic

Variant Stitches

Antique seam stitch

Related Stitches

Basket stitch

Identifying cord stitch

This stitch is used to join two pieces of fabric, the stitches overlap each other to form a slanted chevron effect.  It forms a dense stitched ridge, unlike antique seam stitch.  The reverse shows evenly spaced parallel straight stitches.

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.53–4
  • Mildred Graves Ryan, The complete encyclopedia of stitchery (1979) , p.204