The Satin Stitch is one of the most useful stitches in embroidery. It provides a great filler stitch for flowers and other objects in your work and a great border stitch for those items you want to give that special touch.
The direction of the stitch lends to the extreme versatility of this stitch. It can run whichever direction you need and again, it lends itself to some creative moves on your part. You work the stitch forward and then backward. The forward stitch takes the thread from one side of the outline to the other side of the outlined object. (Leave two fabric threads between each stitch.) Depending on what your predominate hand is, you would work either left to right (right-handed) or right to left (left-handed). You continue working in this manner until you arrive at the other side of your object. Now you will work back across the object in each of the two threads you skipped. (Note: You can start at the top or the bottom, whichever is most comfortable to you.) The most important characteristic of this stitch is that it fills the object in your work.
I especially love this stitch when working with leaves, flowers and other such items. You can change the threads and create a nice blend in the work so that your project takes on life. With a variety of different threads, you can create a fantastic blend of textures to your work too. After you work the center of your piece, then you can border your masterpiece with any of the combination stitches that incorporates the satin stitch. Your local library should contain books on embroidery. These books will show you the different combinations that you can use to border your work. One of my favorite books is Reader's Digest's Complete Guide to Needlework. Until the next article, happy stitching!
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