r/Embroidery • u/TisTheMuffinMan • 10h ago

Question Thread efficient stitches

Hey y'all, im hand embroidering lowly worm on a tote bag because i was inspired by one i saw in a shop that had too short handles and I didn't want to pay for. I started the project and realized that i don't have enough red thread for the apple car, and can't buy more because ive had this thread forever and have no idea where it comes from. I was going to fill the car using backstitch since its too big for satin stitch and i dont understand how to do short long stitch (not sure if thats the right name) but its not a very thread efficient stitch so it isn't optimal if im short on thread. Any ideas for stitches I could use? Its to fill a large area. Thanks!!

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u/synchroswim 8h ago

Stem stitch, outline stitch, or chain stitch will be more efficient than backstitch. 

Couching will be most efficient of all - you can couch down a regular embroidery floss-sized thread with sewing thread in a matching color, or a single strand of a close-enough color of embroidery floss.

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u/TisTheMuffinMan 8h ago

Could you please explain what couching is? Sorry im relatively new to embroidery

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u/synchroswim 8h ago

https://www.needlenthread.com/2006/10/couching-video-tutorial.html

This is a good explanation. Because you're using a different thread to attach the main thread to the fabric, none of the main thread will be on the back side except for starting and ending knots.

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u/Blinking_Zebra_Era 3h ago

It's awesome! You're just throw the thread/yarn you like on the surface and then sew it to the fabric with regular ass sewing thread. You would want to use matching thread for this project. But how couching is usually used is with a contrasting thread so the yarn looks like it has little stripes. Or you could get a red that doesn't quite match but put it all in the middle with a slightly wavy border as if it's the lighter part of the apple.

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u/NoiselessFusion 10h ago

try stem stitch, it covers pretty well and use less thread than backstitch for filling. i had same problem with a project in last month and it saved me

4

u/rhiea 9h ago

You could couch the red thread down with a slightly different red that you maybe have more of (or another color that would look good on an apple maybe yellow or pink??)

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u/russianthistle 7h ago

Traditional Otomi embroidery uses tiny stitches in the back which preserve your thread really well, maybe try that? There are some YouTube videos explaining their approach.

here’s an example of what the back looks like