The detached chain stitch, also known as the “lazy daisy” or just “daisy” stitch, is an isolated stitch – that is, it stands on its own as a stitch, without being connected to another stitch. The detached chain stitch is a very popular embroidery stitch, because it’s an easy and pretty stitch. It’s perfect for flowers, petals, and leaves, but can be used in lots of different ways.
Besides working daisy-type flowers with the detached chain stitch, you can also work the stitch as a ground stitch, to fill in parts of embroidery designs where you want a speckled effect, heavier, for example, than seeding. You can create background patterns with detached chain stitches, and play with the stitch in ways to create texture by overlapping stitches, or by “stippling” with them. It would be interesting to hear from readers about how they have used this stitch in other ways, besides as flowers!
In the meantime, though, you can check out some embroidered flowers that use the detached chain. These embroidered daisies and the pansies on the buttonhole flowers page both make use of this stitch.
I like this example of lazy daisy stitch in action:
As you can see, these aren’t daisies, but they come across pretty well with this stitch, I thought! They’re worked in two strands of cotton overdyed floss.
In the example above, I created a Chain Stitch Spider Daisy, combining the detached chain stitch and the ribbed spider web stitch, and added a bead in the center.
So there are heaps of things you can do with the detached chain stitch!
Here’s the video for the detached chain stitch:
Other tutorials that involve daisy or detached chain stitch can be found at the following links:
Daisy Stitch in Two Colors
Daisy Stitch & Ribbed Spider Web Stitch, combined
For more video tutorials for hand embroidery, please check out the Hand Embroidery How-To Videos here on Needle ‘n Thread.
Excellent. Fantastic idea. It is so clear that it can be grasped by anyone so easily. Great work!!!
I have just discovered – more or less by accident, your video library of stitches. I am incredibly grateful! THank you so much.
Ilene in Maryland
Thanks, this is wonderfully helpful! I’ll definitely use your video library in the future.
Fantastic! Thanks for taking the time to do this. I’d seen instructions in a book, but wasn’t sure exactly how it went together.
Thanks so much. I discovered your videos when trying to master the colonial knot and now I think I have!!!!
This is a wonderful demonstration. Thank you!
best video tutorial ever!!!!
This is so very easy to follow! I’ve never been able to grasp it, and then i do all at once! This is great. This video library is great…good stuff!
Tee in Philadelphia
I used to do embroidery with my mother when I was very young, but since moving away and getting married, I’ve wanted to start again. Thank you so much for these videos. They not only remind me what my mother taught me, but I’ve learned some new tricks too. This is such a great, easy to understand site.
dear Mary: I not speek english, pero I understand perfect your instructions, (I speek spanish) I from Nicaragua.
estoy aprendiendo a bordar con tus videos y me sirven mucho mucho.
Thank you, muchas muchas gracias, me has ayudado mucho con tus videos estoy aprendiendo a bordar y no tengo capacidad para pagar una clase. pero con tus videos es mas que suficiente.
saludes desde Nicaragua.
dear mary: saludes desde Nicaragua,
I not speeking english, but I understanding, perfect your instructions, estoy muy agradecida con tus videos tutoriales, pues estoy aprendiendo a bordar desde las primeras puntadas y lo estoy haciendo con tus videos, te agradezco mucho el favor que haces al enseñarnos a otras personas desde tierras tan lejanas como mi pais Nicaragua, no sabes cuanto bien produces con tus videos, de nuevo mis felicitaciones y ojala algun dia contestes estos mails.
saludes desde Nicaragua
mARTHA
First, thank you very much for these tutorials. I have learned a lot.
Second, I’ve been asked to complete an embroidery piece. It is printed with tons of lazy daisy stitches. I don’t particularly like daisy stiches. Any suggestions for alternatives?
Thank you so much for your video instructions – for truly a picture is worth a thousand words!!!
Now that I have found your website, I know that I will be a frequent visitor!
Thank you, Mary. I learned simply embroidery (cross stitch) as a child and haven't done it in decades. I've now come back to it and your tutorials are a life saver! Bravo!
I'm so thankful for this. I was doing a little mermaid cross stitch which just called for this stitch but didn't explain how to do it. I tried finding directions online but seeing it is much more comprehendable than reading it. Thanks!
thank you so much for going to the trouble of producing thedse videos which are so instructive. I had no idea how to do a cretan stich, and your demonstration has helped and encouraged me. Jane
I’M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE ON THE LASY DAISY VARIATION STITCH ON A DRESSER SCARF THE WAY THEY TELL YOU TO DO IT DOESN’T COME OUT RIGHT.PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME I WANT TO FINISH THE SCARF AND THAT’S THE LAST STITCH ON IT.THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. LIZ B.
I’m actually an oil painter/charcoal artist who decided to sew a purse one day and your site is SOOOO great! Thanks for the helpful information and videos, Mary!
Hi,
I was wondering if you are still doing videos? I can’t seem to figure out the “Basque stitch” from photos I’ve seen online. I saw it referred to as some sort of daisy stitch offshoot — don’t know if that’s correct or not. Would love to learn it, though! :^)
Thank you, Mary
i uses this stitch in my flower i had french knots in the centre and this stitch sticking of them
i mean sticking out of them
Thank you for your help lots!
Natalie M in the Sunshine State
Thank you so much for posting this site! It has been such a great help to me, and soon my oldest daughter whom also wants to learn. Again thank you !
Sincerely,
Rebecca Willsie