Embroidery Stitch
Satin Stitch
Used For
- Filling embroidery shapes
- Monogram lettering
- Solid-color motifs
- Smooth decorative fills
A filling stitch made of closely packed straight stitches laid side by side, used to fill in embroidered shapes with smooth, solid color.
Instructions
- Outline the shape you want to fill, either by lightly marking it or working a small backstitch or split stitch border around the edge first.
- Bring the needle up at one edge of the shape and insert it down directly across, at the opposite edge, making one straight stitch that spans the width of the shape.
- Bring the needle back up right next to where the first stitch started, and insert it down right next to where the first stitch ended.
- Continue laying stitches side by side, packed closely with no fabric showing between them, following the outline of the shape as it narrows or widens.
Tips & Notes
- A backstitch or split stitch outline underneath the satin stitches gives the filled shape a cleaner, more raised edge than stitching directly onto bare fabric.
- Keeping every stitch at a consistent, fairly steep angle across the shape is what gives satin stitch its smooth, glossy look — wandering angles read as messy.
- For wide shapes, working in shorter overlapping sections rather than one very long stitch across the whole width keeps the stitches from snagging and lying flatter.