The Pekinese embroidery stitch is a line stitch with a base line sewn with the back stitch then a second thread is looped through the base line. This makes a great outline where you want more texture with its loops — perfect for surface design. You can use one or multiple colors. This stitch is also sometimes referred to as the interlaced back stitch.
This decorative stitch was used in the historical embroideries of China. It was worked in silk and frequently in different values of one color. When working with a fine thread, a magnifying glass might be needed to see the beautiful texture of this embroidery stitch.
The stitch has a distinctive texture, and is perfect for any linear design. Starting with a backstitch and then interlaced with either the same or a complementary thread. Sewn side-by-side, two rows of the Pekinese stitch makes a great border.
How do you start the Pekinese stitch?
Start this stitch with stitching along your design line with the back stitch. See below for step-by-step tutorial for the Pekinese stitch.
How to Embroider the Pekinese Stitch
Learn how to stitch the Pekinese embroidery stitch with this step-by-step tutorial with photos.
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The Pekinese stitch is a line stitch that starts with the backstitch and then a second thread is looped through the back stitch forming the Pekinese stitch. Embellishments can include one or more lines of the Pekinese stitch forming delicate loops on embroidery.
Materials
- Fabric to embroider
- Embroidery thread or floss. Use either one or two colors or weights of thread. A thicker thread can be used for the second thread giving the finished piece more texture.
Tools
- Embroidery needle suitable for the thread or floss you selected
- Embroidery scissors
- Embroidery hoop, optional but recommended
Instructions
- Start by hooping your fabric. Using a hoop keeps your fabric taut while stitching, making it easier to have nice stitches.
The base line of the Pekinese stitch is a line of the back stitch. See how to embroider the back stitch. Refresher, take one small stitch to start the back stitch. It is worked right to left.
- Bring your needle up and then stitch back to the end of the previous stitch.
- Do this for the entire line for your design. Now we are ready to do the Pekinese stitch loops through these stitches. Bring your needle up at the end of your line. We'll work the loops left to right.
- From the top down, thread your needle with the second thread through the second stitch. Note, you skip the first stitch.
- Then, loop around and back up through the first stitch that we just skipped.
- Next, loop from the top down on the third stitch.
- And, loop the stitch and come back up through the second stitch.
- Here are two stitches complete with their loops.
- Continue skipping a stitch, loop from the top down, then backing up a stitch and taking a loop. Try not to pull the thread that you are looping with very hard, you want to maintain the visual texture that the loops make.
- Here is the finished sample of the Pekinese stitch embroidery.
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The sample below uses different threads so you can see the variations you can make with the Pekinese Embroidery Stitch. Try different thread combinations for your project – make the colors the same, or contrasting.
- Row 1: #12 pearl cotton
- Row 2: #8 pearl cotton
- Row 3: #3 pearl cotton
- Row 4: #3 pearl cotton in a variegated color way
- Row 5: 1/4″ silk ribbon
Check out all of the embroidery tutorials on Create Whimsy!
