How to Sew a Stem Stitch

Curved lines and flowing shapes look amazing with stem stitch. This stitch creates a smooth, rope-like effect that works beautifully for flower stems (hence the name), lettering, or any design with soft, natural curves.

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The trick is to keep the working thread to one side as you go, and once you get the hang of it, it’s super fun to stitch!

What supplies do I need to get started?

Getting started with embroidery is super easy! You only need a few things:

Fabric – Cotton or linen work best.
Embroidery hoop – A wooden or plastic ring that holds your fabric tight.
Embroidery floss – Colorful thread made just for stitching.
Embroidery Needle – A needle with a big eye so you can thread your floss easily.
Scissors – Small, sharp ones are best for cutting thread.
Transfer Paper – You can use transfer paper to print designs for embroidery
Cricut EasyPress Mini - Simple, small iron that makes embroidery easier

VIDEO: Sew a Stem Stitch

Stem Stitch Instructions

Bring the needle up at point A.
Insert it down at point B, slightly ahead, but bring it back up halfway between A and B.
Keep the working thread positioned to one side (usually the same side throughout).
Repeat, making sure each stitch slightly overlaps the previous one to create a twisted effect.

Beginner's Guide to Hand Embroidery

Make sure to take a moment to download your copy of our Beginner's Guide to Hand Embroidery. You'll get our entire list of tools, steps for getting started hand embroidering, links to all our video tutorials PLUS a free stitch sampler.