The split stitch used in hand embroidery is one of the basic embroidery stitches. It’s a simple stitch in concept; difficulty with the stitch usually comes from the splitting of the stitch from underneath. Some threads are easier to split from underneath than others. Personally, I think floche and wool are about the easiest threads to use for split stitch. But regular stranded cotton, stranded silk, twisted filament silk, and perle cottons and silks are all fair game for split stitch.
It’s definitely worth learning to split upwards into the stitch when working split stitch. It just takes a little practice to get that upwards split correct. You can read about the difference between splitting the stitch coming up into it from beneath the fabric and splitting the stitching going down into the stitch from the top of the fabric (called split backstitch) in this article on split stitch vs. split backstitch.
Split stitch can be used to stitch delicate lines and curves, especially when you want detailed, tiny tendrils and or curved lines. You can see the split stitch used for small hand embroidered lettering in this article. This article also shows you how to start a thread when split stitching a line.
Split stitch is also often used for padding under filling stitches, especially under satin stitch. Stitching over a split stitch line when working satin stitch helps maintain perfectly smooth edges that have a little lift to them.
And of course, split stitch can be effectively used as a filling stitch for any shape.
Here’s the split stitch video:
If you’re looking for other instruction for hand embroidery stitches, do feel free to check out my collection of hand embroidery stitch videos here on Needle ‘n Thread!
Hi,
This is very useful and whatever I expected as a beginner,it is there.Thanq so much.
Deepa
Hi,
This stich is very useful.before i dont know about this stich. After this i got an idea, i did this stich in combi of two colour it is good.
Mar, thanks so much for the video. Also for the tip that you were using 6 threads in your demo. It's taken this blockhead time to realize that varying thicknesses of thread render varying finished products. DUH? Thanks again….Judy in Pittsburgh
Hi,
I have a quilt that my grandmother made and it needs the batting. I have decided to try this myself. I wanted to embroider her name on the back to give to my granddaughter. My question is, what is the best stitch to use that will will do the round part of letters? I have never embroidered before. Your video library is very helpful. Thanks so much.
Hi, Sandy – You might want to take a look at my lessons on hand embroidered lettering. This might help you pick out the right stitch for your project. Here’s the link to the lesson index: http://www.needlenthread.com/2009/10/hand-embroidery-lettering-and-text.html . Hope that helps! ~MC
Hi Mary, just watched your video of split stitch. someone told me that they did the stab method going from the front of the stitch and stabbing from the right side to the wrong side. i have tried this but cant seem to work it out. have you ever heard of this method. thanks for your tutorials on embroidery for lettering. hope i can take this over onto the hebrew alphabet. i am just about to embroider the outline a small bird, i tried stem stitch but it looked awful (maybe because i used 3 threads of dmc floss) and i unpicked it. what stitch would you use. thanks for a truly wonderful website, Ilana
Hi! I just found your website and it is great. I have been sewing since I was 8 years old and have tried a lot of different techniques. This Christmas I was introduced to Crewel Work for the first time and I am really enjoying it. Thank you for your lovely patterns.I don’t know if you ever come to Scotland but you would be most welcome!
I just used this stitch to outline some satin stitch leaves that came out a little woobly around the edges (used a flocked cotton that wouldn’t cooperate). But instead of bringing the needle up through the threads on top, I did it by using the outline stitch as you did, but I bring the needle down through the center of the previous top stitch. I find it much easier to be able to center the needle in the threads this way, and the stitches look great to my untrained eye. Has anyone else tried this? The stitches are veeeeery tiny, as they are tiny leaves, and it just made the sweetest little edging ever. I can tell you, I’ll never try satin stitch on medium cotton flocked fabric again! Couldn’t get those stitches even no matter how hard I tried. This stitch was a lifesaver for edging.
Hi Mary,
I thought I’d check out how you do split stitch after seeing today’s post about the fleur-de-lis. Like “Dee from Atlanta”, I also split the stitch from above rather than below. It ends up being worked like back stitch. Do you think I will obtain a better result working split stitch the way you demonstrate? Or is it 6 of one and half a dozen of the other?
Thanks!
Hi, Jen –
Thanks for your question! I always work the split stitch from underneath, splitting as I go up. It does make a difference in the look of the stitch, when it’s worked as a “visible” stitch in a design, but it doesn’t make that much of a difference when it’s worked to outline a part that’s going to be stitched over (like outlining under the fleur de lis). When you’re outlining like that (to stitch over the outline), the point is just to give an even “ridge” to work your stitches over, and so it makes little difference, from what I can see, whether you split from the top or from underneath, as long as your line is smooth. Backstitch, for example, is not the best outlining stitch in such a situation, because backstitch can form little bumps. But split stitch from the top or from underneath works fine. It’s when you work split stitch as a visible stitch that you might have some concern, especially in any case where it is used as a filling. When the stitch comes up from below, it “lifts” the first stitch (the one that’s being stitched) but when the stitch comes from above, it pushes that first stitch down and dents it.
It’s a good subject for a comparison article – maybe I’ll work up a little tutorial on that!
~MC
Hi, I am loving your blog – I´m embroidering some leaves in a bag and the stitches I am learning by watching your videos.
Christina/Brasil
Dear Mary,
When you split the stitch, doesn’t it damage the thread? I am practicing the long and short stitch and when i split the stitch in the previous row, the finished work gives a a sort of fluffy look that I don’t like.. is it because of the quality of the thread?
It could be the thread. It could also be the size of the needle you’re using in relation to the thread. Use the smallest needle possible. When working with stranded DMC, a #10 crewel needle works best.
Thank You so much!:)
Hi. I’m looking at doing some medieval period embroidery. I know split stitch was used for filling in areas. My question is, do all the stitches run the same direction (silk on linen)? Thank you.
No, not always. It depends, I think, on what you’re embroidering. Look up “opus anglicanum embroidery” and you’re bound to find some good tutorials and information, especially from SCA members. ~MC
Thank you. I’m teaching an SCA class soon and just wanted to make sure. As I’m doing my sample piece, visually you can’t tell direction of the stitches as I’m doing the filling. What a wonderful web site you have!
Just wanted you to know I am just learning how to embridery and your video’s have been so helpful and I thank you very much.