Grandma Taught Me Chain Stitch By Hand Embroidery|Here Is How It Turns Out

I visited my grandma’s house that day, just like any other lazy afternoon—but then something caught my eye. A piece of fabric lay on her table, and on it was a beautiful line of stitches that looked like tiny links in a chain. 🤔

“Grandma, what’s this?” I asked, completely intrigued.

She smiled, the way only grandmas do, and said, “Ah, that’s called a chain stitch sewing.”

“Chain stitch?” I echoed, already hooked. “How do you sew chain stitches by hand? This looks so awesome!”

Without missing a beat, Grandma grabbed an embroidery needle and a scrap of fabric. “Come here,” she said. “Let me show you.”

But just as I leaned in to try it myself, she held up a finger and said, “Wait! Before you dive in and start stitching away, there’s more to this than meets the eye. Let me really teach you how to chain stitch by hand.” She began showing me chain stitch step by step.

What Is A Chain Stitch?

A chain stitch is a stitch that forms a series of looped stitches—each one linking into the next, creating a chain-like pattern on your fabric. That’s why it got its name. It’s one of the interesting kinds of hand stitches.

In embroidery, the chain stitch is also known as the tambour stitch or point de chaînette (its French name).

How To Sew Chain Stitch By Hand Without A Machine?

To do a chain stitch by hand, you need to follow 7 steps.

Next stop is the embroidery hoop. This is optional but helpful for a beginner stitcher. Grandma said this and then gave me a measurement.

If you ask my preference, then,

Then, you just make a small, straight stitch on your fabric. Keep it no bigger than a quarter(0.25) inch. This initial stitch will help anchor everything else you do.

Now, you’ll create a little loop. Take the needle and reinsert it into the same hole (or one adjacent to it—either works). But wait!

Bring your needle up through the fabric again inside that loop you just left. The point where you come up should be a short distance forward. This determines your stitch length.

How many stitches do you do, Grandma? 

I do 10 stitches for my chain stitch project. This is helpful for embroidery stitches 😊

Make sure the working thread (the one attached to the needle) stays under your needle tip as you pull it through. That’s what makes the chain “lock” into place.

You’ve got your first loop—yay! Now, go down into the same hole again (or right next to the last exit point), and bring the needle back up a little forward, just like before. But maintain a dissent gap.

And again—make sure the needle catches the thread loop. Pull through slowly to keep it neat.

Keep repeating this process to build a lovely linked chain. The more you do it, the more rhythmic and relaxing it feels!

Grandma always said, “The hardest part? Getting each stitch the same length.” And she was right. Sometimes your loops might cross, twist, or look a bit uneven—that’s totally normal at first. Don’t stress. It gets better with practice!

The key is to maintain consistent spacing.

Basically, it all depends on your style and the variation of chain stitch you’re using. Gently guide the loops with your fingers as you go, and let your rhythm find you. Your chain will be looking neat and lovely in no time.

Great! You have reached the end of the chain stitch. Now, 

You can apply those stitches in overcast stitches by hand too. Trim any excess thread close to the fabric. This will neatly secure the end of the chain stitch.

Chainstitch is an interesting stitch to bring out embroidery on fabric. I tried it myself after my grandma taught me this. Here, have a look.

Another Way To Chain Stitch

Grandma showed me a simple way to trend stitch. However, upon researching, I discovered additional methods. Among them, I find these two very eye-catching. So i tried it,

Reverse chain stitch is like the classic chain stitch,but worked backward! It gives a knitted look, is faster to stitch, and surprisingly easy to learn once you get the hang of it. Here is how i do it,

3. Insert needle above the previous anchor, form another loop, pull it up through the loop, and anchor again.
4. End with one final straight stitch to lock everything in place and tie off underneath.

A detached chain stitch is basically a chain stitch that is not connected to the fabric. That’s how it got its name. Here is how it’s done,

3. But don’t pull the thread through—let it form a 1–2mm loop.
4. Bring the needle up through the fabric at the petal tip (¼–½ inch away), catching the loop to form the almond shape.
5. Add a tiny straight stitch over the top of the loop to hold it in place without flattening it.

A two-thread chain stitch is a stitch that forms a line of interlocking loops, just like the links of a delicate chain. It’s loved for its elegant, textured look and is commonly used to outline shapes or add detail to designs.

3. Move forward about a stitch length, then bring your needle up through the fabric again. But this time, come up inside the loop you just left.
4. Gently pull the needle and thread all the way through, tightening the loop until it forms a neat link.
5. Repeat the process: go back down in the same hole as the last stitch, leave a loop, come up a stitch-length forward inside the loop, and pull to tighten.
6. Each repeat adds another “link” to the chain.

This stitch may look fancy, but once you get the rhythm, it’s surprisingly simple—and incredibly satisfying to watch those little loops come to life! Want me to add illustrations or a tip section next?

Frequently asked questions

Wrap Up

So, I have taught you how to sew chain stitch by hand.

Now it’s time for your chain stitch!

Buggle up and start your project, and let us know what you have done with this simple stitch.