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.
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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 always had trouble with this lazy daisy stitch. it was so confusing! until this video helped me!
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
merci merci merci merci ………………………………………….merci la broderie c VVVVVous bravo et merci
cant find words to thank you……so i say God bless u. you teach from ur soul
Hi Mary! i am also ten years old. I always had trouble with this lazy daisy stitch. it was so confusing! until this video helped me!
please help me. which way do you do the daisy stitch?
I simply love your site!! Wonderful,Splendid,Remarkable.
And thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of all these wonderful stitches.
I am amazed.
Thanks for the video library! I access it frequently!
Quality instruction.
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your embroidery stitch videos. It is so clear and precise and so easy to understand. I go to it to refresh my memory before doing my projects.
I am so thankful for this website! I’m just a beginner and this is so thorough.
So thanks!!!
Dear Mary, I believe that I have commented before, but I am going to comment again “for good measure.” Your tutorial videos on how to create specific stitches absolutely save me! THANK YOU for having these clear helpful videos available. I referred to them again this weekend as I am starting a more ambitious project, and videos remind me how to make certain stitches. A great reference!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Hi, Laura! I’m so glad you find them useful!! Thanks very much for the comment – it’s always encouraging to hear that folks enjoy Needle ‘n Thread!
Mary,
I just watched your video on the detatched chain/lazy daisy stitch to refresh my memory. I used it on a wool applique last year to make leaves for tulips in which the flower was just a French knot — very small tulips. When I made the first pair of leaves, they were a bit plumper and rounded than I wanted but I went on to the next set. That time I accidentally twisted the loop and after I anchored it, I really liked what I saw: a longish, thin tulip leaf. I continued to make all of the tulip leaves with a twisted loop. I believe I may have created a new stitch — did I?
Hi, Janet! Don’t you love it when that happens?! I don’t know if you’ve invented a totally new stitch. I’ve used twisted chain Stitches before, and I’ve seen them used by other people, but the fact that you discovered a new-to-you stitch that worked for what you wanted is terrific, don’t you think?
What would I do without your instruction-you make it so easy!
I think I always pull the loops too hard… they’re always long and skinny instead of nice and round like yours!
Hello Mary,
I just stumbled upon your site and I’m thrilled. I can watch your videos and now learn how to do these beautiful stitches.
What stitch would you use for the petals on a Gerber Daisy?
I’d probably use a fishbone stitch, like some of the stylized daisies shown in this article: https://www.needlenthread.com/2019/03/floral-corners-hand-embroidery-projects.html
Only, I’d probably use one strand of thread, if the embroidery is meant to be a bit finer.