The Arrowhead Stitch can be used in groups on a line, or as a filling stitch. It can be detached as a single arrowhead. It is a great embroidery stitch for a row or border, or use as a stitch to fill an area.
It is considered one of the basic stitches, is part of the family of straight stitches and is a flat stitch. It is quick and easy to stitch. Two straight stitches are connected to form an arrow shape.
How to Embroider the Arrow Head Stitch
Learn how to make the arrow head embroidery stitch with these step-by-step directions with images.
Materials
- Fabric to embroider
- Embroidery thread or floss
Tools
- Embroidery hoop
- Removable fabric marker - I used a Frixion pen
- Embroidery scissors
Instructions
- Start by marking two parallel lines on your fabric that will be the height of your stitches. I used a Frixion pen. NOTE: Always test your marker on a scrap of fabric. The Frixion pen uses heat to be removed.
Next, hoop your fabric. I prefer to use a hoop to keep the fabric taut while stitching, keeping the tension and stitches more even.
- The arrow stitch is worked from left to right. Bring your needle up on the lower line (A) and then take it down on the upper line (B) to form the top of your arrow.
- You'll stitch all of one side of the arrows across your line first and then come back and stitch the other side. Now bring your needle up at C, which should be the same distance away from B as A on the lower line. The three points A, B and C should form a triangle. And take your needle down at D, which should be the same distance as between A and C.
- Following the same guidelines to keep your arrows even, try to keep the distances between your stitches the same. Bring your needle up at E and down at F.
- Continue with this until you get to the end of your line. Then, bring your needle up like you would for the next stitch but now turn around and take it down at the last top stitch.
- Then, bring the needle up at the bottom of the next stitch to the left along the bottom line.
- Here is how you'll stitch back across your line forming the arrow embroidery stitch.
- And, the next stitch.
- Continue until you get to the left end of your line.
- Here is the finished arrow embroidery stitch, with the drawn guidelines still in place. Now you can remove the lines according to the manufacturer's instructions for your marking tool.
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When it is a row, it looks like a zig zag, and when worked to fill an area, it looks like netting.
How can I use the basic arrowhead embroidery stitch?
This stitch is great in embroidery as a border or line stitch. It is used in crazy quilting projects. Looking for a unique use for this stitch?
Use it in sewing projects to tack down layers of fabric, with one point of the stitch on one fabric and the other point on the fabric you want to attach.
Once you begin incorporating this stitch into your regular repertoire, you’ll find you use it more than you thought!
This simple stitch can also be stitched singularly, representing a bird or as a background filler stitch. It is similar to the fly stitch when used in this way.
Try different colored threads for each row for a different look! Or, metallic thread for a bit of bling and shine on your piece! Play around with different threads to see what you like!
Stitched in a single row, it looks like a zig zag stitch.
Use single stitches as arrowhead tacks for sewing layers together. This is used in tailoring, especially layering different interfacings on the fronts of men’s jackets.
Here is a sampler with the basic arrowhead stitch in one line.
See also our tutorial for the Stacked Arrowhead Embroidery stitch.
Browse through more hand embroidery tutorials and inspiration that includes featured embroidery artists.
Other popular hand embroidery stitches are the satin stitch, stem stitch, colonial knot, chain stitch, herringbone stitch, and seed stitch (also known as rice stitch).
