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Knotted chain stitch icon
Knotted chain stitch

  • Link stitch
Knotted chain stitch main image

This surface stitch is formed by loops of thread anchored by slanted stitches and small knots.  It forms small linked circles and is more intricate than most of the other versions of chain stitch.

The earliest citation of this stitch is in Mrs Christie’s 1921 book, Samplers and stitches.

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Chained Knotted Border Outline Embellishment Surface

Knotted chain stitch is generously sponsored by Helen Sturdy

Method

This stitch works best in a thread which holds its shape such as a perle or other heavy thread.

To increase the size of your chains, increase the distance from the design line when you take your needle down and bring it back up.  To increase the spacing between the chains, increase the length of the slanted stitch.

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Knotted chain stitch method stage 1 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Bring your needle up at the right-hand end of the design line and then take it down slightly to the left and just above the line to form a slanted stitch.

Knotted chain stitch method stage 2 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Bring your needle up immediately below the design line, in line with where it was taken down.

Knotted chain stitch method stage 3 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Throw your thread to the left and (without piercing the fabric) slide your needle under the slanted stitch.  Leave a loop on the surface.

Knotted chain stitch method stage 4 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Throw your thread to the left again, but this time take your needle under the loop and up through the middle of it.  Draw your thread through to the desired size of chain.

Knotted chain stitch method stage 5 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

Make another slanted stitch and continue working the stitch.

Knotted chain stitch method stage 6 illustration
Knotted chain stitch method stage 6 photograph
6

A line of knotted chain stitch.

Knotted chain stitch

Structure of stitch

Chained Knotted

Common uses

Border Outline Embellishment

Embroidery Techniques

Surface

Related Stitches

Chain stitch

References

  • Mrs Archibald Christie, Samplers and Stitches (1921) , p.55–6
  • Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.38–9