Fly stitch
- Open loop stitch
- Y-stitch
Fly stitch consists of a straight stitch pulled down into a ‘V’ shape by an anchoring stitch. Elongating the anchoring stitch transforms the stitch into a ‘Y’ shape.
Fly stitch is cited as one of the range of historic stitches used by May Morris and the other embroiderers employed by Morris and Co, the iconic Arts and Crafts company.
Method
Bring the needle and thread up and down through the fabric, a short distance apart.
Leaving a loop on the surface, bring the needle up inside the loop, between its two ends.
Pull the slack through to tighten the loop against the needle.
Pull the thread to the surface and take the needle down the other side to secure the loop.
Pull through to complete the stitch, then secure.
Try varying the length of the stitches and the angle of the ‘V’ to achieve different looks.

Common uses
Embroidery Techniques
Related Stitches
References
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Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.101
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Jacqui McDonald, RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Crewelwork (2010)
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Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004)
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Ellen L. Ramsay. (2018) 'Review: May Morris: Arts and Crafts Designer', Labour / Le Travail pp.290-2. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/26551563