Crewel line stitches: stem, split and chain
The stitches for stems and tendrils.
Step by step
- Stem stitch: each stitch comes up beside the last to make a rope-like line.
- Split stitch: make a small stitch, then come up through its middle and repeat.
- Chain stitch: loop the thread and anchor each loop with the next.
- Use split stitch to outline shapes you'll fill later.
Watch
Stem stitch & Outline stitch | Beginners hand embroidery stitches flosstube video tutorial (7:39)
By Sarah Homfray Embroidery · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 7-minute video from Sarah Homfray Embroidery on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.