Common crewel mistakes and fixes

Snagging satin stitch, gaps in shading, wool wear.

• Satin stitch loose and snagging: use it only for small areas.
• Gaps in shading: split up into the previous row.
• Puckering: use a sturdy fabric like linen twill and keep it taut.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.

1. Craftsy: What is crewel embroidery?
2. Embroiderers' Guild of America: Crewel