Introduction
The main goal of the Hand Embroidery Dictionary, and of my work, is to teach and pass on this wonderful needle-craft, of free-form embroidery. In this book you will find 500+ stitches, grouped into 16 categories. 505 stitches to be exact, not counting the variations upon variations, tips, and suggestions!
Some of the stitches you will find familiar, and some will be new to you, as many of the stitches I created myself. The stitches include individual, continuous, compound, composite, hybrid, grouped and plaited. Also shown are seed and filler stitches, netted stitches, laced stitches, and overlaid stitches.
Stitch Families
To help you become familiar with the stitches, I have compiled the individual stitch family first, followed by the continuous stitch family that uses the same or similar form. For this purpose, I decided to create three additional individual stitch families, the barb, fleet, and capped stitches.
- Straight Stitches: 23 stitches
- Outline Stitches: 36 stitches
- Knotted, Woven and Whipped Stitches: 28 stitches
- Lazy Daisy Stitches: 36 stitches
- Chain Stitches: 34 stitches
- Barb Stitches: 30 stitches
- Blanket and Buttonhole Stitches: 52 stitches
- Fly Stitches: 42 stitches
- Feather Stitches: 50 stitches
- Fleet Stitches: 22 stitches
- Cretan Stitches: 30 stitches
- Cross Stitches: 37 stitches
- Herringbone Stitches: 31 stitches
- Capped Stitches: 19 stitches
- Chevron Stitches: 24 stitches
- Embellishment Stitches: 11 stitches
Give-Away Details
For a chance to win a free copy of the eBook of the Hand Embroidery Dictionary, please leave a comment below. You can tell me what your favorite stitch is, or how long you have been embroidering, or even why you would like to win the eBook.
Official Rules: Giveaway will close on midnight September 26, 2021, PST. Winner of the eBook prize will be notified by email within one week of the giveaway closing.
Tour Dates September 20-24, 2021
Here are the previous post entries, each participant gave their own take on the book.
Monday September 20: C&T Publishing, https://www.ctpub.com/blog/
Tuesday September 21: Jo Avery, https://joavery.co.uk
Wednesday September 22: Elizabeth DeCroos, https://www.epidastudio.com/blog/
Alish Henderson: Jamie Chalmers (@mrxstitch) • Instagram photos and videos
Thursday September 23: Laura Wasilowski, https://artfabrik.com
Good luck and Happy Stitching~ Christen
Christen's Creations 
Looking for a book that gives the “next” step for basic stitches. Looks like it’s your book.
Rita
Hi Rita, this book gives the basics as well as that “next step” and then some.
Looks like a wonderful book! Thank you!
Thank you, happy stitching journeys!
Your book is inspiring. I’ve been embroidering since my pre-teen years, and I’m in my 60’s now. Always ready to learn a new stitch or stitch combination.
Thank you for sharing your history, happy continued stitching!
Thank for the giveaway, I’m a long time beginning stitcher looking for great tutorials.
Happy stitching to you, enjoy the journey!
I have been embroidering since I was about 12 years old so that is about 53 years or so. I have done a lot of red work, blue, purple, green, black work etc over my quilting years. I got hooked on doing wool embroidery when Sue Spargo did her circles. I am wanting to branch out with my embroidery and this book would give me a great base for learning stitches.
Hi Elaine, YOU HAVE WON! thank you for your memories and comments!
I have been wanting to explore embroidery for use on clothing and everyday items. I have a few different books, including your Bead Embroidery book and another. I have actually been waiting for the publication of your Hand Embroidery Dictionary, because I do not yet have a Dictionary-type embroidery book and when I did some research, I felt that rather than buy a book currently available on the market, that I would wait until yours was published, because I knew it would go way beyond the average stitch dictionary available now.
Hi Marie, thank you for buying my books! I hope that you continue to be interested and enjoy your stitching!
I love your books and this one looks absolutely amazing! Thank you for all the meticulous work you put into it.
Thank you so much, happy stitching to you!
This looks like an awesome addition to my Library. Thanks for the opportunity to win one
Thank you for participating, happy stitching to you!
My first project was an apron when I was in 2nd grade. My great grandmother showed me how to do cross stitch on checked gingham. She was so awesome! I love to use combination stitches on wool stitchery.
Thank you for sharing your memory, happy continued stitching to you!
This book looks amazing! Your projects are so beautiful!
Thank you Karen, happy stitching to you!
I do curved beaded crazy quilting! I’ve inherited a whole collection of ribbons, threads, fabrics and even more beads! I’m always open to learning new stitches!
Hi Terri, thank you for this and also your email. I was happy to see all those beads! Happy continued stitching to you!
I would love to win a copy of your book !
My fav stitch is feather stitch as it is so fancy to cover seams .
My mom introduced me to embroidery when I was only 9 yrs old. She had made a feather filled comforter and quilted cover and embroidered it herself in 1952 when she married my Dad . I still have it
I love the feather stitch too, one of my favorites. I am happy that your mom taught you, and that you have her quilt, how special!
I have copies of all of your books and would love to add this one to my library. My favorite stitch is the bullion stitch. I have been embroidering since my grandmother started me on tea towels at the age of 5. I think of her as I stitch.
Hi Abby, good to hear from you! I love your story about your grandmother, and love that stitch too!
I just started embroidery, and I would love to learn more. I have done bead embroidery for years. I like many needle crafts.
Happy Stitching to you, I hope that you continue to be interested and creative!
At age 6, my aunt and grandmother taught me the stem stitch. I still have the apron grandma made me with the stenciled flower stitch with pink embroidery thread. It is 66 years old! I’d love to win a copy of the “Hand Embroidery Dictionary” and pick up embroidery again!
Thank you for sharing your memories, unfortunately the give-away closed on September 26, 2021, as stated in the post.