Swedish weaving embroidery - basic stitches

There are really only 3 types of stitches in Swedish weaving embroidery; straight, stepped and looped. A short explanation of each is given below.

Straight Stitch

This is just what it says, a straight stitch and stays on the same row of the fabric.

In the example above the thread is woven under every set of floats (a float is the pair of threads on the surface of the fabric). A variation could be inserting the needle under every other float.

Stepped Stitches

This includes any stitch that moves from one row up and/or down.

Stepped stitches can vary quite a bit depending on their height and width, from tiny variations to large zig-zags.

The free Hannah bookmark pattern teach versions of these 2 stitches.

Download here for free

Looped Stitches

Again, these are what it says and can vary from a simple loop to twisted and triangular loops.

The above image shows twisted loops of different heights plus a triangular loop at the top.

Rows of loops may be used on their own, interlocked with a second row or used in between other stitches in the same row.

With just a few different stitches a myriad of different designs can be created.

If you fancy a try, the Caroline or Zabrina beginner kits are a great place to start. They teach a variety of stitches and help build confidence. They can also be purchased as just the PDF (stitch charts and instructions) if you already have a house full of threads and Aida: Caroline PDF, Zabrina PDF