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Raised fishbone stitch icon
Raised fishbone stitch

  • Overlapping herringbone stitch
Raised fishbone stitch main image

This stitch consists of alternate diagonal stitches which overlap to fill an area, typically a leaf shape.  It’s alternative name of overlapping herringbone stitch gives an indication of its structure, although due to the amount the stitches overlap this is not readily visible from the finished stitch.

 

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Crossed Raised Parallel Filling Leaves Embellishment Surface

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Method

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Raised fishbone stitch method stage 1 illustration
Raised fishbone stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Starting at the tip make a straight central stitch into the shape.

Raised fishbone stitch method stage 2 illustration
Raised fishbone stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Bring the needle up just inside one side of the shape, cross over the central stitch and take the needle down on the edge close to the point.

Raised fishbone stitch method stage 3 illustration
Raised fishbone stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Bring the needle up close to the point on the other side of the central line and take it down just inside the outline mirroring the other side.

Raised fishbone stitch method stage 4 illustration
Raised fishbone stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

Repeat the last two steps over and over to gradually fill the interior, padding and covering the shape at the same time.

Raised fishbone stitch

Structure of stitch

Crossed Raised Parallel

Common uses

Ideal for leaf shapes.

Filling Leaves Embellishment

Embroidery Techniques

Surface

Related Stitches

Fishbone stitch Leaf stitch (surface) Fern stitch

References

  • Mrs Archibald Christie, Samplers and Stitches (1921) , p.15
  • Mary Thomas, Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches (1934) , p.100
  • Jennifer Campbell, Ann-Marie Bakewell, Guide to Embroidery Stitches (2004)