The lovely and light Fern Stitch combines three small stitches sewn vertically to make a fern like line. This stitch is great for vegetation fill on your project. You can vary the threads and size of the stitches to convey different sizes of plants and add surface design and texture to your embroidery projects.

What is the fern stitch?

This stitch is a simple stitch, suitable for representing sprays and leaf vines on your embroidery. I love using it for hoop art embroidery to fill some of the background in a flower garden. It also is perfect for working light edges on your embroidery projects or as an embellishment on a garment — perfect for pretty little baby clothes.

This stitch consists of three straight stitches of approximately the same length, all radiating from one central point. It can be worked along a straight or curved line.

One (1) Embroidery Sampler

How to Embroider the Fern Stitch

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

The fern stitch is a simple stitch that can add amazing movement and texture to your embroidery, and it's easy!

Materials

Fabric for embroidery
Embroidery floss or thread

Tools

Embroidery needle suitable for the floss or thread selected
Embroidery hoop, recommended
Embroidery scissors

Instructions

Start by threading your needle with about 18 inches of your embroidery floss or thread and hooping your fabric. I like to hoop my fabric for embroidery as it helps keep the fabric taut and stitches even.

Draw three lines for the middle and both sides of your fern. I use a Frixion pen that is removed with heat. NOTE: Always test your fabric marker on a scrap of fabric first.
This stitch is worked from top to bottom. Bring your needle up at A and take it back down at B, making the first part of the stem.
Next, bring your needle up at C.
And, back down at B, forming the first leaf on the fern, and back up at D on the right.
Bring your needle back to B, up at E on the center line.
Then, back down at B and to the left at F. This makes the second section of the main stem.
Bring your needle down at E and up at G, forming the second set of leaves.
Again, bring your needle down at E and now up at H, continuing to form the center stem.
Repeat the process to the left, bringing your needle back down at E and up at I.
Then, down at H to the right and back up at J.
Continue with this back and forth stitching until you have finished stitching your fern. You can make the stitches wider at the bottom of the fern, if you'd like. Make the center stems curve different directions, like ferns do in nature.
Once you are done, remove your markings. Since i used a Frixion pen, it just took a quick shot of steam and my markings were gone! Once you get experienced with this stitch, you probably can skip the step to mark your fabric. Here is the finished sampler!

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What is fern stitch used for?

This stitch is used to create movement and textures along either a straight or curved line, mostly as a plant in an embroidery design. Naturally, it looks like a plant but this stitch can also be used for tree branches or seaweed – or any type of foliage.

This stitch is used often in crazy quilting, following along seam lines or wandering across a section of the crazy quilt. Add French knots or beads to the ends of the stitches to make them stand out even more!

Another great use for this stitch is a fancy outline stitch, adding great visual interest to your embroidery project.

Once you add this embroidery stitch to your repertoire, you’ll find a lot of uses for it!

Here is another sample of this embroidery stitch.