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Home » Embroidery » Hand Embroidery

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Embroidery Tutorials Hand Embroideryby Lynn Woll

The Checkered Chain Stitch is also known as the Alternating Chain Stitch, Two Color Chain Stitch and the Magic Chain Stitch. This stitch uses two colors of threads through one needle, and is super easy to do and I love the effect! 

Here are two threads on my needle.  Bring the needle up like for a chain stitch.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Start like you would a basic chain stitch, by taking a small stitch, but only take one thread under the needle.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

For the next chain stitch, put the other thread under the tip of the needle.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

And, the next stitch use the first color again.

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Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

And, switch the colors again.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Here is what the Checkered Chain Stitch looks like! You can try a variety of color combinations.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

The finished circle of the Checkered Chain Stitch!

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Another close-up of the Checkered Chain Stitch.

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

I felt like it just needed some French Knots inside with the two colors of threads!

Embroidery: Checkered Chain Stitch

Here is a sample using a variety of threads to see how it stitches out.

Row 1: Metallic frost ray and #3 pearl cotton

Row 2: 2 colors of silk straw

Row 3: #3 pearl cotton, one variegated and one solid

Row 4: 2 colors #3 pearl cotton

Row 5: 2 colors #8 pearl cotton


Check out all of the embroidery projects on Create Whimsy!


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