Seed Stitch Tutorial

Seed stitch is also known as seed filling, speckling, dot stitch, and rice stitch. It is one of the simplest stitches to work. This stitch is created by scattering tiny straight stitches randomly over the surface of your fabric. Traditionally, you work the stitches with quite an even spacing, keeping the length of each stitch the same. The randomness is created by pointing the stitches in different directions. If you want a light and airy feel, space the stitches further apart. A close, dense spacing of stitches over an area creates quite a visually strong filling.

In contemporary embroidery, you can vary the weight of the thread with thick and thin threads used over the same area. Also seed stitch can be worked in a more free-form manner in contemporary embroidery. You can change not only the direction but also the length of the stitch and spacing. You can work dense areas with stitches piled up against each other. Or work seed stitch sprinkled across a surface as a sparse little light touch.

There is a double version of Seed stitch. You can find instructions for Double seed stitch here

You can work Seed stitch on plain or evenweave fabric. Try varying the look of this stitch by using different coloured threads, or threads of different thickness. If you use a metallic thread and sprinkle beads in among the stitches to add more life and a contemporary twist to your work.

 

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My book for creative stitchers

If you enjoy my site you will get real value from my book  Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery: Visual Guide to 120 Essential Stitches for Stunning Designs

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned embroiderer, Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery gives you techniques to encourage and develop a fresh and creative embroidery style. Discover play points in your embroidery. Explore variations in height and width, stacking stitches, or using repetitions of the same stitch to create areas of texture and shape. All these techniques and more will give you creative variations. I have included numerous demonstrations of small tweaks that create big effects to send you down your own creative path, all richly illustrated with plenty of eye candy.