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Fly stitch icon
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.

add_circleMy Stitches
Looped Isolated Embellishment Border Grass Leaves Open Filling Shading Crewelwork Wessex Stitchery Mountmellick Ribbonwork Surface

Fly stitch is generously sponsored by Linda Carswell

Method

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Fly stitch method stage 1 illustration
Fly stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring the needle and thread up and down through the fabric, a short distance apart.

Fly stitch method stage 2 illustration
Fly stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Leaving a loop on the surface, bring the needle up inside the loop, between its two ends.

Fly stitch method stage 3 illustration
Fly stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Pull the slack through to tighten the loop against the needle.

Fly stitch method stage 4 illustration
Fly stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Pull the thread to the surface and take the needle down the other side to secure the loop.

Fly stitch method stage 5 illustration
Fly stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

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.

Fly stitch

Structure of stitch

Looped Isolated

Common uses

Embellishment Border Grass Leaves Open Filling Shading

Embroidery Techniques

Crewelwork Wessex Stitchery Mountmellick Ribbonwork Surface

Related Stitches

Cretan stitch (open) Feather stitch Double feather stitch Closed fly stitch Fern stitch

References

  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.101
  • Jacqui McDonald, RSN Essential Stitch Guides: Crewelwork (2010)
  • Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004)
  • 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