Filled Stitch - Step by Step Tutorial - Very easy!

Learn to embroider the filled stitch

Filled or satin stitch is a straight type embroidery stitch considered to be one of the most important embroidery stitches. There are basically two types of fill stitches: the flat fill stitch and the raised fill stitch.

The basic satin stitch is a fill stitch that covers small areas with soft, close stitches that lie flat on the fabric. It is sometimes called a flat satin stitch to differentiate it from other stitches in the satin stitch family. Other stitches include the long and short fill stitch, the filled satin stitch, the outlined fill stitch, and the shaded fill stitch.

The full satin stitch

Traditionally, satin stitch fills an area without a contour around it, the stitching featuring smooth shapes and even lines. Sometimes it can be difficult to embroider the fabric, as the spaces designed for the stitches create a "staggered" effect with the satin stitch.

When working with this stitch to create curves, adjust the placement of the stitches incrementally, keeping in mind that some shapes require you to take a stitch in a different way than you might expect. For example, when sewing the end of an oval, the ends are flat. But that's what makes the oval look good.

The fill stitch and other stitches

While the fill stitch is usually smooth, it's fun to embellish it with other stitches. For example, you can add a little fill in a contrasting color to a few more stitches on a filled shape. Finishing off the stuffed stitch helps prevent it from snagging and enhances the style.

The more you work this stitch, the better you will see how to get the shapes you want. Until then, practice: take a few stitches and see if they look good. If not, adjust them.

You can fill a shape with stitches in many ways (concentric split stitches, random straight stitches, fill in with French knots, etc.), but a satin stitch is a good way to tell.

Embroidered images in stuffed stitch

Next, you can see some ideas to embroider flowers and leaves with the filled stitch.

How to embroider a stuffed stitch fabric step by step

If you have a gap in your pattern that you want to fill in, the fill stitch is the best stitch to do it.

Start by lifting the needle up from the back of the hoop, along the pattern line. Notice that it's easiest to start in the middle of the shape and work out towards each end. Imagine if this were a circle - spanning the diameter first is much easier than trying to start at the outer edge.

Next, reinsert your needle directly in front of your last exit point. You will be making stitches that extend across the entire shape.

Pull the thread all the way through, and there you have your first stitch in the process! Ok, now pay close attention to this very important next step:

Start your next stitch across, but not next to, the end of your last stitch. You will do this every time. Don't try to make your next stitch sit right next to the end of your last, there won't be enough fabric in between and you'll have a small gap of fabric peeking through each stitch, when we want them as close to side to side as possible .

Your next stitch will always start on the other side of the end of the last one. This also means that the back of the fabric will look the same as the front!

Sew towards one end, making the stitches smaller and smaller.

Then finish the other half! Working this way (doing the half and half shape) is just a personal preference. If you want, you can start your first stitch at either end with the smaller stitch. I get better results if I work this way.

video tutorial for beginners

To finish, I leave you a video tutorial of Carli Lo, so that you learn to embroider this important point: