The Feather Stitch is a beautiful embroidery stitch for both straight and curved lines, and is a popular stitch in crazy quilting. This stitch is a hand embroidery stitch that creates airy lines of stitching, and can be single, double, triple, interlaced, done straight or at a slant or angle. It makes beautiful trim on garments, blankets as well as on quilts.

How is feather embroidery stitch used?

The Feather Stitch often depicts natural elements – vines, branches, seaweed and such – especially with variegated threads! Fair warning: it’s a stitch that welcomes the addition of beads, French knots and flowers! You’ll often find it combined with other stitches for embellishments. It is also a popular embellishment on garments as well as in crazy quilting.

Project idea: Feather stitch is also a great edge stitch – perfect for flannel baby blankets. Just double turned the edge of a piece of flannel and stitch the feather stitch around the edge for a nice finish.

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What is the feather stitch?

The Feather Stitch consists of open, looped stitches worked alternately to the right and left of central lines. This stitch also does a great job as a background filler stitch for garden or underwater scenes. The rhythm of the stitch reminds me a bit of Buttonhole Stitch and Chain Stitch. It’s a good idea to mark your fabric while learning about the four (4) parallel lines that guide your stitching. Once you get a bit of practice, you won’t need the lines any longer.

To mark the lines, use your favorite fabric marking tool. I use a Frixion pen which quickly disappears from my fabric with a bit of heat from my iron. ALWAYS test your chosen marker first on a small corner or scrap of your fabric.

One (1) Sampler

How to Embroider the Feather Stitch

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

The feather embroidery stitch is a decorative stitch that is worked top down, alternating stitches from right to left. It is a nice and airy stitch that is just right for embellishments on garments, crazy quilting and more! Use it to finish binding on a baby quilt! It stitches great around curves, as well as straight lines.

Materials

Fabric to embroider
Embroidery thread or floss

Tools

Embroidery needle suitable for your thread
Embroidery hoop, recommended
Embroidery scissors
Fabric marker; I like using a Frixion pen

Instructions

Start by hooping your fabric. I like to use a hoop to keep my fabric taut - it makes it easier to have nice stitch tension.

When you are beginning, it is easier to mark four (4) parallel lines on your fabric with your favorite removable fabric marker. I like using a Frixion pen. Always test your chosen method before you begin stitching to make sure it comes out of your fabric. A Frixion pen comes out with a bit of heat when you are done stitching.

Begin by bringing your threaded needle up at A, down at B, back up at C and loop the embroidery thread around the end of your needle.
For your second stitch, take your needle down at D and up at E. See how you are working right to left?
Continue working in this method looping the thread around the needle right to left and left to right.
When you get close to the end of your marked lines (or unmarked when you get good at the feather stitch), bring your needle up with the last loop.
Then, take your needle back down just on the other side of the looped thread to the back side of your embroidery fabric.
Here is the finished feather stitch embroidery! Once you get going with this stitching it becomes very rhythmic.
Remove your markings and you have a beautiful sampler of the feather stitch!