Let's make this easy on you. So many embroidery diagrams left me scratching my head. So, I've illustrated some of my favorite starting stitches in a way that should make them utterly understandable.

"1" indicates where the needle first comes up through the fabric (you'll start from behind the hoop), "2" means where it is brought down again and so on. Ready to sew on?

These stitching diagrams (and even more instructions) come in each
Sublime Stitching Kit and there are even more diagrams in my books.
I'll be adding more stitches to this section (there are hundreds of stitches you can learn), so check back soon with needle in hand!

SPLIT - STEM - BACK - CHAIN

FRENCH KNOT - SATIN

LAZY LOTUS

~ DIAGRAMS FOR LEFTIES ~

SPLIT STITCH

Make a small stitch (1-2) and bring your needle up through the center of the previous stitch (3) as you make your next one. You will need to work with a divisible floss (at least four strands) so you can split them. Continue along pattern line. That’s it! Looks impressive, but is super simple! (This is also the first stitch I learned, and the one I use the most).

STEM STITCH

Work this almost like the stitch we just learned (split stitch, above). The difference? Instead of splitting the previous stitch, come up beside it. Repeat with your following stitches, working at a slight diagonal across your line, and keeping to the same side of your stitches (you can choose which side that will be). This stitch is great for curvy lines like vines and plant stems.
(Maybe that’s why it’s called a stem stitch? Ya think?)

BACK STITCH

Give this simple stitch a try! Also called a “seed stitch”, it’s a cinch to work. Make a single, straight stitch (1-2). Continue along your pattern line, but come up a space ahead (3) and bring your needle back down into the same hole at the end of the last stitch you made. Get it? You are bringing your stitch back to the end of the last one you just made. Now you know what to do to make a neat, clean line, and create a crisp corner -use this stitch whenever your pattern makes a quick turn, even if you’re working in another stitch. Helpful.

CHAIN STITCH

Come up at 1 and reinsert the tip of your needle just next to (2), or in the same opening at 1. Not so fast! Before you pull the stitch all the way through, leave an extra loop of floss on the topside of your fabric. Now, bring your needle back up through the fabric again (in the direction of your pattern line), and pass the tip of the needle inside the loop of floss you made. Continue and repeat, always pulling down the little loop of the previous stitch.

(This version is a little different from the traditional way of working a chain stitch, but that's okay!)