I visited my grandma’s house that day. I saw the fabric with thread looking like a chain! 🤔 My grandma came to me and said this is chain stitch.
I asked how to sew chain stitch by hand. This looks so awesome!
Grandma grabbed an embroidery needle and fabric and said-
Hand Sew A Chain Stitch
To sew a chain stitch by hand, pull the needle up through the fabric, create a loop by reinserting the needle close to the original point, and pull it up through the loop to form linked chains.
Wait, wait! Before starting to do a single chain stitch embroidery, learn the whole process of how to chain stitch by hand. There is more to the picture than that.
Table of Contents
How To Sew Chain Stitch By Hand Without A Machine?
Grandma, the chain stitch looks so interesting. Kindly teach me how to sew chain stitch by hand.
-Ok, to do a chain stitch, you need to follow 8 steps.
- Put Embroidery Hoop In Your Fabric
- Starting Point Of Chain Stitch
- Make A Small Stitch
- Make The chain Stitch
- Maintain The Right Chain Stitch Distance
- Continue The Chain Stitch The Same Way
- Secure The Chain Stitch
- End The Chain Stitch
Put Embroidery Hoop In Your Fabric
You need an embroidery hoop. Why? It will help you hold the fabric together tightly and make your heavy chain stitch peacefully. This will help you to do the embroidery stitch correctly. This is a must for an outline stitch. Now, there are many sizes of embroidery hoops. As in:
-that’s a long list, grandma. Which size embroidery hoop is for chain stitch, then?
-For chain stitch, you need embroidery about 4 inches by 4 inches. These are good for detailed designs, but you can also use a range from 5 inches by 7 inches to 8 inches by 12 inches.
-I usually use an embroidery hoop 5 inches by 9 inches for chain stitching. 😁
-Got your desired embroidery hoop? Great!
-Then, To start the hand stitch for this simple variation place the smaller hoop on a flat surface. Then, place the fabric with the pattern facing upwards onto the hoop, ensuring that the section you want to sewing stitch is within the hoop. This hoop also can help you to do a darning stitch.
Next, loosen the larger hoop using the screw provided on one side, and slip it over the fabric and smaller hoop. But remember it isn’t like a blanket stitch by hand. You shouldn’t be gentle with them.
Tighten the screw just enough to make the fabric tight and taut. If the fabric feels loose, gently pull it on the sides to tighten it further. This creates a hooped fabric where the material remains tight no matter where you carry it.
Starting Point Of Chain Stitch
-So, how to start a hand sewn stitch, Grandma?
Starting a basic chain stitch is super straightforward. First, color thread or Embroidery Floss your needle with a 4.0 thread ratio. If you want a strong hand stitch, go for a 5.5 ratio thread.
Make A Small Stitch
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 that your thread is up on the right side of the fabric, pop the needle back down at point (2).
Make The Chain Stitch.
It should be right next to where it first came up at point (1)—make sure it’s a separate hole, though just like buttonhole stitch. Next, bring the needle back up at point (3), which is just in front of points (1) and (2).
Loop your embroidery thread under the tip of the needle before pulling it gently through to the right side. This action creates your very first chain link.
You can also adjust the size of the loop by changing the number of chains you make. Typically, patterns start with a loop made of 4 chains, and then around 8 to 12 basic embroidery stitches are worked into it.
-How many stitches do you do, Grandma?
– I do 10 stitches for my chain stitch project. This is really helpful for embroidery stitches 😊
Maintain The Right Chain Stitch Distance
Well, the distance between points (3) and points (1)(2) will set the size of your chain. If you’re just practicing and want to get a feel for the basic stitch, aim for about ¼ inch (6mm) from points (1) and (2).
This site is easy for a beginner and makes the perfect cable chain stitch. As you get more comfortable, you can start making the stitches smaller for more refined embroidery. If you tag along with cross stitch then you will end up with an eye catchy embroidery stitch.
Continue The Chain Stitch The Same Way
Typically, they can vary between 2.0 to 3.0 mm. Some prefer a slightly longer stitch, around 2.5 to 3.5 mm.
If you want finer detail, go for something between 1.8 to 2.2 mm. However, this length depends on chain stitch variations.
Secure The Chain Stitch
Now, Pull the needle over the working thread and start pulling to tighten it. Make sure the needle goes over the working thread, not under it. Finally, pull the thread tight. Repeat these steps as needed.
-As you continue, you’ll see oval-shaped stitches that look like “0” joined by short dashes resembling a chain. Keep wrapping the thread around the needle, scooping up fabric, pulling the needle back over the working thread, and tightening.
End The Chain Stitch
Great! You have reached the end of the chain stitch. Now, you have to create a small loop with the thread. Just like while doing the pick stitch. Pass the needle at 90 degrees through this loop and gently pull to secure it.
Then, insert the needle into the fabric close to where the last stitch ended and bring it out a short distance away. Pull the thread through to form a small knot. 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.
And that’s it! You have done a chain stitch!
Hard to understand? Then what about this video
Watch The Tutorial
How to quickly thread their needle using simple, step by step instructions.
Thread And Needle For Chain Stitch
There are a few coloured thread options for chain stitch. Some, like Aurifil 12-weight cotton or wool thread, which is great for the job.
On the other hand, some, like Madeira Burma cotton thread number 12, which is a mix of acrylic and cotton, gives it a matte finish. Then again, Rayon is another choice for decorative stitch, but it’s pricier and has a shiny, glossy look.
Got your thread? Ok, now let’s grab a needle.
-Chain stitch band needles come in different sizes, like 2/80/12 to 7/130/21. The size you pick depends on your fabric. Generally, go for the smallest needle that suits your fabric to avoid extra holes.
-I normally use a size tapestry 6 needle and cotton thread. 👌
But the choice depends on your fabric, actually. How? Well-
When choosing needles for hand checkered chain stitches, consider your fabric’s weight. This trick may seem familiar to you if you know how to do a blind stitch by hand.
A size 10 needle works well for silk, while a size 4 suits thick denim. Some like sizes 3, 5, and 9 for hand embroidery. Others prefer sizes 7 or 8, also known as crewel needles, even for one strand of floss.
According to DMC suggests a size 3 needle for six strands and a size 8 needle for 3 strands.
-OK got my thread and needle, how do you thread a chain stitch needle?
-To thread a needle for a chain stitch, flatten the thread between your fingers and moisten it if needed. Hold just the tip visible between your thumb and forefinger, and slide the needle onto it rather than the other way around. Leave a 2–3 inch tail to keep the thread from slipping out as you start stitching.
My chain stitch journey
I tried chain stitch after learning from grandma. It’s actually super easy. I used a tapestry 7-size needle and cotton thread, which made my chain stitch project smoother.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How To Identify Chain Stitch?
Chain stitches are easy to identify. They look like a chain of thread, so you can identify them just by looking at them.
What Is A Magic Chain Stitch?
The Magic Chain Stitch is a beautiful stitch that alternates between two or more colors to create a chain pattern. To do this stitch, you should already know how to make a Chain Stitch. For my example, I’m using three strands each of pink and purple thread, and I’ll be stitching along a curved line.
Is Chain Stitch Good?
Yes, chain stitch is quite good for several reasons. It’s especially useful in embroidery and sewing because it creates a flexible and stretchable seam or decorative line. This flexibility makes it ideal for fabrics that need to stretch, like knitwear, the edges of blankets, or areas of clothing that move a lot, such as waistbands and sleeve cuffs.
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.
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