Oh, the plaited braid stitch! It is a beautiful stitch, but unfortunately, for some reason, many stitchers are intimidated by it. Let’s alleviate that intimidation, shall we?
See, plaited braid stitch is often presented as an historical stitch that is “only” used with metal threads in historical re-creations. I say pooh-pooh to that! Why should such a gorgeous stitch be used only in historical contexts? Sure, it’s been around for a long time! But why aren’t we using it in modern applications as well? Possibly because the instructions for the plaited braid stitch presented in most stitch dictionaries tend to be confusing, making the stitch difficult to master.
There are also several variations of the stitch, along with many opinions on whether it should be worked towards you or away from you, horizontally or vertically, with this thread or that thread, using the right hand or the left hand, using this type of needle or that type of needle – and all of these opinions lend to the confusion. They also tend to make the stitch seem inaccessible for the beginner
And that is another thing to which, like Madeline facing the tiger at the zoo, I say pooh-pooh!
While an absolute beginner who’s never stitched before probably wouldn’t launch in to hand embroidery with the plaited braid stitch, if you know some basic stitchery, the plaited braid stitch really is just as simple as any other stitch made up of various movements.
So, to help you conquer the plaited braid stitch, here’s a short video on how I work the plaited braid stitch. In the plaited braid stitch video, I’m using perle cotton #5 and a #22 tapestry needle, and working on linen.
So that you can clearly see the movement of the stitch, I’ve worked it rather loosely. The key to a beautiful plaited braid stitch is correct tension and correct spacing for the thread you’re using. Once you understand the movement of the stitch, with a little bit of practice, you’ll be working your own plaited braid stitch in no time!
Here’s the Plaited Braid Stitch video:
Plaited Braid Stitch Printable Instructions
There’s not a lot of time in a how-to video to cover various aspects of the stitch, so I’ve created a Stitch Play Printable for Plaited Braid Stitch that takes you step-by-step through the stitch with both photos and diagrams, and also demonstrates how to work the stitch for the right handed embroiderer and the left handed embroiderer.
The Plaited Braid Stitch Printable includes information on materials (fabrics, threads, needles); instructions for starting and ending threads, for working intersections, and for working wavy lines and curves; tips on stitch size, thread types, and line width; four practice exercises to help you master the stitch; three extra knot work designs for further practice; and a complete list of resources for fabrics, threads, and needles.
You can find the Plaited Braid Stitch Printable in my shop, available for download today, so that you can master the plaited stitch right away.
You can find heaps more how-to videos for hand embroidery stitches here on Needle ‘n Thread, too, if you’re hankering to learn more stitches. If you’re looking for other in-depth Printables, feel free to visit my shop, where you’ll find other Stitch Printables available for download.
As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or drop me a line!
I hope you enjoy the video and the printable!
Thank you, Mary! The plaited braid stitch is a beautiful addition to the stich videos. I’m keeping the curtains drawn, placed a piece of paper on my doorbell chimes so they won’t ring, and I’ve programmed my phones calls to go straight to voice mail so I will have no interruptions while I practice today.
Hi, Charla – That sounds ideal. I should follow your example! I might get more done!!! Hope the practice session goes well – if you have any questions, drop me a line! ~MC
That was a GREAT video. I might have missed it, but what metal threads do you like to use for this stitch.
Thanks. You are such a great resource for the stitching community.
Hi, Mary – there are several different metal threads that work well with this stitch. I like #4 or 5 passing thread best, I think, and the 371 wire thread. -MC
Hi Mary,
In short – you ROCK!
Thank you for everything you do and all the time and effort you put in to helping others learn.
Hi, Cheryl! Every time you pop up on here, I go giddy with jealousy. I absolutely LOVE PEI!!!
I’m glad you like the instructions! Thanks for the note!
~MC
I agree with Cheryl. Thank you Mary, you have a knack at making intimidating embroidery accessible, and even better, enjoyable!
PS: I also love PEI!
WooHoo! You know, I’ve meaning to meander over to Ye Olde Shoppe here to pick up that gallon of printables, and today will be the day!
LOL! Thanks, Sheila -Ye Olde Shoppe has just been waiting for you!
Well, that has to be the easiest shopping experience ever! Easy Peasy, popped up in my email a minute after I hit confirm on PayPal. Your instructions look great! Can’t wait to dig in. Thanks for everything, Mary! Ye Olde Shoppe is excellent!
Thank you for this excellent (and fun!) addition to my stitching library!
Glad you like it, Cindy!
Thank you for making this available. This stitch gained some notoriety in re-enactment circles a few years ago. It’s good to see a clear explanation of its movements. How did you come up with the first movement? That’s a new addition to the stitch and gives a nice evenness to the start.
Hi, Alex – I think (not certain) this is the way Leon Conrad “cracked” the plaited braid stitch years ago. It shows up in some stitch dictionaries and books using this method now, but actually, in the stitch dictionary I’ve seen that uses this start method, the right handed version of the stitch is backwards (it would only work with a left hand), and the left handed version is for left handed stitchers, so in that book, you end up with two left-handed versions, each stitched from a different direction, but still only workable with the left hand. Any time I’ve seen the stitch worked this way, it assumes working with the left hand. Since the majority of stitchers, though, are right handed, I figured it was time to flip the instructions and make them right handed (no offense to left handers!) In the printable, I’ve included diagrams for both, though.
Another thing that I’ve not seen with this stitch is how to make it easy to access that center hole on the second pass in making the “pretzel” – that’s the trickiest part of the stitch, really. I think leaving that loop in the working thread when you make the first pass on the “pretzel” guarantees an easier approach not only to the stitch (entering the center hole when you pass in it in the second part of the “pretzel”) but also to getting the tension correct.
Anyway, once the movement of the stitch is understood, it’s very easy to adapt the stitch to the right or left hand, or to work the stitch on a stationary frame that you can’t turn while stitching. There’s a definite, easy rhythm to the stitch once it gets going, which makes it really fun to work, and to work quickly.
~MC
Thank you for showing us how to do this stitch. I am thinking this stitch might look awesome embroidered in a pattern around the neckline of a blouse of some type. Would you have any patterns for that type of application?
Hi, Robin! I agree! I’ll do some digging and see what I can come up with! ~MC
Dear Mary
Thanks so much for this long awaited video. I’ve just bought the stitch play printable and I will sit down now and read through this exciting stitch I’m thinking of using this for my present project so will have to try and see.
Thanks
Regards Anita Simmance
Thanks, Anita! You’ll have to let me know how it goes! Hope you enjoy the stitch! -MC
Dear Mary
Just a question would Gold Tambour #7 be alright to use for this stitch has I have 30 meters and thought I could use that.
Thanks
Regards Anita Simmance
Yes, but it has to be a very narrow line – I’d say no more than 1/8″…
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for this video. I have tried to purchase the printable but seem to be in an infinite loop with Paypal. Either the payment(s) are going through and I’m not getting a message confirming the purchase, or its not going through at all. Its possible I’ve now bought it a number of times!!! Anyway – can you check all is in order. I’ll let you know if I receive a printable version by email.
Thanks
Evelyn
Hi, Evelyn – it has not gone through, so you might wait a bit and try again. I’ll drop you an email…
Thank you Mary, I was waiting for this.
Another challenge for me.
Have a nice day
Alet
Hi Mary, I downloaded the Plaited Braid Stitch Printable – such wonderful instructions! But I can’t seem to open the video on this page. Could you send me the link? Thank you. Jackie
I solved my problem (well, my husband did):-) Internet explorer would not open the video, but I got it open by using Mozilla Firefox –I guess we need to be smarter than our computers! Sorry to have bothered you about it
and thanks again for the great teaching you do!
Jackie S.
HI Mary,
Thanks so much for the video on the plaited braid stitch. I’ve been loving it for some time, but am wondering if it could be applied to Ecclesiastical work? What comes to mind are designs that have the obvious parallel lines like the piece you posted photos on here: http://www.needlenthread.com/2012/08/19th-century-rose-in-silk-gold.html
In theory, would the plaited braid work or be appropriate going around the oval of the rose for example? Would love your input, or that from anyone else…..
Hi Carrie – yes, definitely. I have been pondering the same thing….
Are there restrictions (maybe traditions would be a better term) on what stitches can/cannot be used in Ecclesiastical work? My knee-jerk thought is unless it’s a stitch that’s prone to snagging or wear, use it if it gives the desired effect. And if it is prone to snagging and wear, don’t use it on items that get worn or handled. Then again, I’m not involved in thaty type of needlework.
Thanks for these videos. I refer to them all the time. I learn better by watching the stitch being made that reading how to stitch.
Thanks
Sandy
Mary, thank you for this instructional video. I am deaf, but have no trouble figuring out the stitches from watching you stitch them. This is the first time I noticed that you have captioned the video and I just want to say Bravo!! I appreciate your efforts on that so much and I am sure other people who are hearing impaired will appreciate it too!
Thanks a bunch!!
Dawn C.
Hi,Dawn! Thanks for your comment! I’m glad the closed captioning is helpful – I’m working on updating all the videos with it. At this point, most of the new ones have correct captioning, but I still have quite a few to finish and correct. Now that I know they are useful and appreciated, I’ll work faster to get them all finished! Thanks for letting me know! -MC
G’day Mary,
Once again the bones are revealed to simplify the whole, even though nothing of the visual intrigue of the stitch is lost. There’s something about seeing this stitch so clearly ‘instructionalised’ that is like a very hopeful promise. Kind of, like when life seems to be unraveling, it CAN be repaired, one stitch at at time, into something beautiful and gainful. If life seems full of misplaced needles that are found, painfully, when we think they’re the last thing we need or want, choose a blunt one, and some unraveled life thread, (don’t worry about the type or colour) and make braid. The rhythm, fascination and distraction of getting it together and seeing results just has to nurture positive thoughts.
Real and mental stitching are good for the soul.
I hope you don’t think I’m preaching, I’m really just talking to myself. Actually helpful too.
Thank you Mary. Cheers, Kath
Thank you so much Mary. I’ve bookmarked your instructions for later purchase. I can see using this on the edges of box lids.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have been poring over the newish book (I think by Jacqui Carey) going ooh, aah, but not actually understanding much about it. Now that I have seen you do this in front of me it is like a ‘eureka’ moment. It really doesn’t look so difficult after all. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t look like a walk in the part either, but somewhere between there and rocket surgery. I will practice it this evening and if you hear distant screams you will know that I got it all wrong – again!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0U THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0UTHANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0U THANK YOU THANK Y0U THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0U THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0U THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK Y0U!!!! I finally think I’m going to get this thing – everyone was saying – it’s not that complicated (yes it IS!!!) your wonderfully clear and conscise video really confirms that sometimes I NEED to see instructions in action before I can understand how it’s done…Oh, did I say thank you?
Ah que lindo,gracias por esto tendre que verlo muchas veces pero lo voy a elaborar,muchas gracias nuevamente.
Great video, Mary – now I can really see why this stitch is a thread hog. It sounds like this is a candidate for a book all to itself, similar to the Montenegrin stitch book.
Mary, Thanks for this great discussion of plaited braid stitch. I’m working on a piece that has a boatload of it (in gold thread) and was really having trouble getting the pattern correct.
p.s. That top photo has caused me to crave watermelon. Yummy color combination.
muchas gracias, la verdad esta muy bueno el video, muy bien explicado. pondre en practica esta puntada tan bonita. de nuevo mil gracias
I am so PLEASED!!! With your excellent tutorial I got this elusive stitch down in less than 10 minutes. Hooray! Thank you for the most lucid directions. Joan B.
WOW! Absolutely stunning and something I think I’m definitely going to give a try. Thanks so much for the great video instructions!
Bonjour
votre version imprimable m’interresse mais je ne comprends pas l’anglais est ce qu’avec les photos je peux comprendre
J’aimerais bien que tout vos livres et explications soient un jour en français
Merci et bravo tous vos ouvrages sont magnifiques
Je suis une fidèle de votre blog
amitiés Marie Christine
It is very pretty but I have trouble with it because I am doing a circle I think?
I would appretiate help
Natalie age ten in FL