Stitch this Fabulous Sampler

If you want to stitch this wonderful sampler and learn over 30 Hand Embroidery stitches then head over to this page for all the information.
If you have purchased the Pre Printed Fabric Panel or have tranferred the Template to your fabric – scroll down to the ‘Start Stitching’ section to get started straight away.
This week we are adding some Isolated Stitches to the sampler.
Isolated Stitches

There are lots of wonderful Isolated stitches to choose from – they are worked singly or in a cluster depending on the effect you are trying to create and add a lot of interest and colour to lots of patterns.
Where to stitch…
Last week we drew a 2 cm width line next to the stem stitch on the top right quarter. This is where we will stitch a few Isolated stitches.
Start Stitching…
Choose your thread…
I chose a Perle thread size 8 for all the stitches in different colours. You can choose whatever you like for these or try a few different ones to see what the outcome looks like.
To start with, we will stitch from the bottom of the line up…
Square Boss
Draw 3 crosses on your sampler as in the photo…

I used a Size 8 Perle Thread, the stitch is completed as follows…
- Stitch a Cross Stitch
- Start on the bottom right arm of the cross and stitch and back stitch over it.
- Pull through to the back.
- Complete a Back stitch on each of the crosses arms to complete.

Complete all three Square Boss stitches in the same way…

Cross and Twist Stitch
Draw 5 more crosses on the sampler like so…
…stitch a normal cross stitch and then bring the thread up at the top centre above the cross.



Complete the rest of the cross and twist stitches on the marked crosses. You can vary the length of the vertical twist stitch to get different effects.

Now for the next one…
Sheaf Stitch
Draw 2 lines – 1cm apart – directly above the last stitches.
Draw 3 vertical lines with a small distance between them on the left side as in the photo…

Stitch the vertical lines with straight single stitches.
Bring the needle up through to the front in the centre – make sure you bring the needle out at the side under the stitches – don’t pierce through them.

Take the needle over to the right side so the thread goes over the 3 stitches – then take the needle under the bundle of stitches from right to left (not through the fabric).

Pull tight to shape the bundle and then take the needle back over to the right and back in to secure.
Stitch a few more to complete the line.


Detached Chain Stitch
Draw a line 1cm from the Sheaf Stitch across the width of the 2cm line.
Stitch a few detached chain stitches across the line…

Up at 1, down at 2 – form a loop – up at 3 to catch the loop and down at 4 to secure the loop…


Detached Fly Stitch
Draw 3 ‘V’ shapes directly above the chain stitch.
Stitch a detached fly stitch as follows… Come up at 1 – go down at 2. Come up at 3 (at the bottom of the ‘V’) and stitch a small vertical stitch going back in at 4 to secure the Fly Stitch in place.
Stitch the other 2 Fly Stitch.

Stitch a few more just for fun…

Pistol Stitch
This stitch is basically a French Knot with a tail.
Stitch the tail first – come up at 1 – and then take the needle the up to where you want the knot to be and stitch a french knot to complete the stitch (2).


Seed Stitch
To finish the block off a few seed stitch can be stitched at the top of the line to fill the remaining area. These are just small straight stitches placed randomly. Double seed stitch is 2 placed together and single are done on their own.
And that’s all the Isolated Stitches for this week. When you see them all together it really makes a great effect…

As you can see from the photo above – to complete the right top quarter of the sampler, I filled the remaining gap on the very edge with cross stitches – do the same or use one of the isolated ones you just learnt and complete this quarter on your sampler as well.
Share your progress on the FB Group, on Instagram with #stitchdoodlesdesign or send me you pics and I’ll add them here.
Happy Stitching!
