The Easiest Chain Stitch
I've done a lot of research on embroidery. More than your average embroidering bear. I've been lucky to have access to private libraries of embroidery books and have done extensive research while writing my own books. Doing so makes you feel like you know quite a bit about technique. You can compare decades of what's been published, what's not been published, how authorities differ -and you get all puffed up on yourself and think you're really smart for showing eight different ways to come out with the same stitch.
Boy do I feel stupid.
Well, "stupid" is harsh. I feel silly, stunned and totally amazed by this simple, fool-proof technique for making a chain stitch. It's a technique that a student pulled me aside and showed me during one of my classes.
That was a while ago, and I've since forgotten her name (Laurie? Was that you?), so I hope she'll see this and comment. UPDATE: Kirstin came forward! See comments >
I just want to say that over the years while teaching, students have shown me their own tricks and techniques which results in a great back-and-forth that has been as helpful to me in my own work as I hope my instruction has been to them.
Ready to learn a technique that will change your chain stitch forever?
How-To: The Easiest Chain Stitch







julie
Aimee, I don’t know if it’s a “cheater’s” stem stitch, but I have devised an easier way to stem stitch…instead of pulling the floss all the way through, I hold the loose in my left hand and bring the needle back up with my right to in between 1 and 2 (if you’re looking at Jenny’s how-to). Hopefully this helps…
Aimee
I’ve been doing the chain stitch this way since I saw the blog post, since normal chain stitch never quite worked for me. It’s amazing!
(On a totally related note, if anyone has a Cheater’s Stem Stitch, I’d be really grateful!)
Ron Coppetti
First time to try a Chain stitch from this post and it works Great!!! :-) I will be doing more of them.
Thanks Jenny!
cinthia
thank you ! seems so simple indeed … i have tried many times to remember how to chain stitch but never managed. I think it’s time for me to try again and i have just received all my flosses from sublime stitching so … how happy i am !!
Tracy
I have a huge urge to chain stitch everything now. This . . . changes . . . everything. Thanks so much!
Joslyn K
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! I just dread doing chains. Definitely will give this a try. Btw, thanks so much for the freebie pdfs, too! You rock!
Jenny | Sublime Stitching
Hi Tanya! I agree: we all have to find what works best for us! And if you are already adept at chain-stitching (and have been doing it for a long time) adopting a new technique would seem counter-intuitive. No need to change how you work if it already works for you!
jessa
Yea! This is how I’ve always done it. I figure that as long as my threads end up where I want them, my technique is fine, unconventional or not.
tanya
going to go against the grain here, but that looks harder and much much slower to me. I’ve alwayas found chain one of the easiest stitches and enver had problems with tension – the trick is to take the fabric off the frame, I’d only do chain on tensioned cloth under duress
Sally
Chain stitch has always seemed easy to me and is my go to stitch for so many purposes. Now, your split stitch drives me crazy!!
amanda
This is the way i was taught to do a chain stitch also. none of my teachers were lefties. i didn’t know any other way. who knew it was the secret squirrel method!
Rene S
This blew my mind. I am trying it right now and it looks so even. Thanks Kirsten and Jenny!
Shelley
Dude. Genius.
Machelle
Thanks for this! I am going to try it. I have not seen this and I have been doing embroidery since I was 12 years old….and that was A LONG time ago;)
Becky
No longer shall this stitch be my “nemesis”! Thank you!!!
Ehme
Thank you Kirstin and Jenny! I am left handed and my chain stitches were always awful. I am now sitting here chain stitching like crazy. Hooray!
SweetlyStitched
O…m…g!!! that looks so much easier and amazing!!! thank her for sharing that with you, so you could share that with me [us]!!! <3
Becky PS
DOH! I was shown this way to do the chain stitch a millennium ago but forgot! SOOOOO much easier and neater. Thanks Jenny!
Chandice
Wow! This is great :-D How super easy! Thanks Jenny for posting and thanks Kirstin for showing Jenny :-D I’ve always kinda shied away from using the chain stitch. NO MORE! Yippe!
Jenny | Sublime Stitching
Kirstin! I’m so glad you saw this! “Cheater’s Chain Stitch”. Well, you’ve made a lot of people very happy with this.
Kirstin
I did show you my “cheater’s chain stitch” during your class at the Fowler and I am so glad to see it here. Everyone who wants perfect looking chains will love it!
Jenny | Sublime Stitching
Oh, how interesting! I bet it did! I’ll have to look in my lefties-reference book to see if it’s in there now…
Mary Ann
This is how my mum who was left handed taught me to do it. I don’t know if her being left handed had anything to do with it or not.