Companion skills

Embroidery

Surface embroidery stitches commonly combined with English smocking — so motifs sit gracefully above a cable, wave, or trellis field. Same visual standard as the smocking chapters: needle path, tension, mistakes, and construction you can follow without a video.

11 of 11 companion stitches complete · Decorative motifs

• AdvancedComplete

  Bullion Stitch

  Wrapped needle for roses and buds

  A tightly wrapped stitch that builds dimensional roses and buds — the signature flower of heirloom smocked garments.

  With smocking: Cluster above cable borders or in open trellis diamonds on bishop yokes.

• BeginnerComplete

  French Knot

  Compact wrapped dot

  A small wrapped knot used for centers, berries, and textured fill. Essential beside lazy daisy and bullion work.

  With smocking: Dot the centers of daisy sprays and fill small fields above smocked panels.

• BeginnerComplete

  Lazy Daisy

  Detached chain petals

  A detached chain loop that forms petals and simple leaves. Fast, readable, and perfect with smocked grounds.

  With smocking: Build sprays that sit on the plain fabric above a smocked yoke.

• IntermediateComplete

  Feather Stitch

  Branching vine stitch

  An open branching stitch that climbs like a vine. Frames smocked panels and carries leaves or knots.

  With smocking: Run beside cable borders or climb from a smocked band into the skirt.

• BeginnerComplete

  Stem Stitch (Embroidery)

  Surface outline rope — not smocking stem

  The classic surface stem for botanical outlines. Distinct from smocking stem stitch worked across pleats.

  With smocking: Draw flower stems and motif outlines on the flat fabric around the smocked field.

• IntermediateComplete

  Satin Stitch

  Smooth solid fill

  Parallel stitches that fill a shape with a smooth sheen. Keep shapes small for heirloom work.

  With smocking: Fill bow loops and petal hearts above cable or trellis panels.

• BeginnerComplete

  Back Stitch

  Firm outline line

  A strong, continuous outline made by stitching backward into the previous hole. Ideal under monograms.

  With smocking: Outline motifs and stabilize shapes near gathering rows.

• BeginnerComplete

  Chain Stitch

  Linked loop line

  A line of linked loops that frames panels and draws bold curves.

  With smocking: Border a smocked insert or echo the neckline above the first cable.

• BeginnerComplete

  Blanket Stitch

  Edge and appliqué stitch

  A looped edge stitch for hems, appliqué, and decorative boundaries on garments with smocked inserts.

  With smocking: Finish appliqué animals or lace edges near smocked yokes.

• BeginnerComplete

  Outline Stitch (Embroidery)

  Smooth surface line — not smocking outline

  Surface outline related to stem; keep thread position consistent for a smooth cord on flat fabric.

  With smocking: Fine botanical lines on batiste surrounding the smocked area.

• BeginnerComplete

  Running Stitch

  Utility and light texture

  Even in-and-out stitches for temporary guidelines or delicate textured lines.

  With smocking: Mark motif placement before permanent embroidery above the smocking.