clear navigate_before

Sienese stitch icon
Sienese stitch

  • Siennese stitch
Sienese stitch main image

This stitch consists of parallel straight stitches, each of which is embellished with a detached buttonhole stitch: together they form a wide textured line.  It can also be used as an isolated stitch.

It has some structural similarities with loop stitch: both work detached buttonhole stitches over the previous stitch, although loop stitch works it over the previous buttonhole stitch rather than alternating straight and detached buttonhole stitches.  N.B. some authors use the name Sienese stitch to refer to loop stitch.

It also has structural similarities with Sorbello stitch: this stitch works a detached buttonhole stitch over a straight stitch; Sorbello stitch works two detached buttonhole stitches over each straight stitch.

Sienese stitch is part of Sienese embroidery which, as its name suggests, is from Siena in the Tuscany region of Italy.  The technique dates from the first part of the 20th century.

add_circleMy Stitches
Buttonhole Isolated Border Embellishment Powdered filling Surface

Sienese Stitch is generously sponsored by Valerie McAleenan for the love of the NeedleArts.

Method

The normal method for this stitch alternates working the straight stitches with the detached buttonhole stitches.  However, if you wanted to use different threads for the two parts, you could work all of the straight stitches first and then work the buttonhole stitches separately.
Draw or imagine two parallel guidelines before starting stitching.

pan_tool
1
Sienese stitch method stage 1 illustration
Sienese stitch method stage 1 photograph
1

Starting at one end, make a straight stitch across the two guidelines and bring your needle up on one guideline a little ahead.

2
Sienese stitch method stage 2 illustration
Sienese stitch method stage 2 photograph
2

Work a detached buttonhole stitch over the straight stitch and then take it down on the other guideline, level with where it emerged.

Single Brussels stitch
3
Sienese stitch method stage 3 illustration
Sienese stitch method stage 3 photograph
3

Continue in this way, making straight stitches and then working a single detached buttonhole stitch over each stitch.

4
Sienese stitch method stage 4 illustration
Sienese stitch method stage 4 photograph
4

A line of Sienese stitches.

5
Sienese stitch method stage 5 photograph
5

The stitch can be worked with different spacing.

Sienese stitch

Structure of stitch

Buttonhole Isolated

Common uses

Border Embellishment Powdered filling

Embroidery Techniques

Surface

Related Stitches

Sorbello stitch Loop stitch

Identifying Sienese stitch

This stitch can be identified by parallel straight stitches, each of which has a detached buttonhole stitch worked over it.  Depending on which direction the straight stitches are worked, the reverse will either show short stitches along the direction of travel alternating between each guideline or evenly spaced diagonal stitches across the width of the stitch.  Depending on the tension, the stitches can appear like textured cross stitches.

References