Here’s a video for the heavy chain stitch used in hand embroidery. The heavy chain stitch creates a more solid chain stitch line that is quite smooth and that looks like a tightly worked braid. It can be used practically anywhere you would use a regular chain stitch line.
The heavy chain stitch works fine on straight lines, and gently and tight curves. In the photo above, the green scalloped line is worked in the heavy chain stitch.
The heavy chain stitch works really well for embroidering text, too. You can find this tutorial for embroidering text with heavy chain stitch in my hand embroidered lettering lessons.
Here’s the video for the heavy chain stitch. I hope you find it useful!
If you’re looking for other hand embroidery stitch videos, feel free to check out my whole collection of embroidery how-to videos here on Needle ‘n Thread!
Looking for inspiration & information on hand embroidery?
There are all kinds of reasons to sign up for the Needle ‘n Thread daily newsletter! Check them out and sign up today!
If you like what you see on Needle ’n Thread, if you want to be a part of keeping the website thriving (and free of annoying network advertising), why not become a patron on Patreon? Check out my Patreon page here, where I’ll occasionally add special needlework bonuses for patrons.
If you shop on Amazon, you can support Needle ’n Thread without any extra expense to you by visiting my Amazon Recommendations page here, where you’ll find books and sundries for the needleworker available on Amazon.
heyy mary…i must tel u dat m a big fan of urs…n m so thankful to u for putting up such a website for us which has so much to offer in embroidery….i have used some of ur stitches in my handmade cards…n that brought in my way loads of compliments…cheers to you dear….
thanks for such a nice description, it will be better if you show some images giving an idea where to use which stitch.
Hej Mary,
I loved sewing since childhood but for over 20 years I was out of the sewing world due to my secretarial job. Now I suddenly realise I still love sewing. First time I came across this ‘Heavy chain stitch’ and its beautiful. I am going to enjoy learning more from your site. Thanks for such useful information and video tutorial. Good Luck Mary!
Hi mary thanks!
Thank you for all this wonderful blog and sharing you teaching free. What a blessing you are. May Jesus richly bless you with His abundance!!!
Thank you from the heart!
Oh Mrs. Corbet this looks so much easier than that blasted Lazy Daisy Stitch. I think it will be the perfect filling stitch for my next labor of love. Thank you for these wonderful videos.
OMG Thank you so much. You’re awesome
Hi Mary,
This is the first time I actually took the time to look at one of your video’s. I just wanted to say it was very well done and simple,but clear. This is a very good way to learn a stitch. I might also add that it is much easier to see it done this way than taking an adult ed class and getting a close look at the the stitch in a room full of students. Thanks!
Hi, Lynn – Glad you like the videos!
Nome: Abramo Carlos Salvi
Trabalho co material reciclável, a 30 ano
Tenho 68 anos
Aprendi bordar vagonite, ponto médici.
E agora achei seu site, achei muito lindo os pontos do seu bardado.
Gostaria de aprender, vc tem apostilas?
Se for atendido fico muito grato.
Abramo Carlos Salvi
hello, I do not have printed instructions, but you may look around the website and find instructions that will help you!
Thank you so much for providing this video. It’s very helpful. I am currently using this stitch over a letter and I face an issue. When I start the stitch the first few stitches look very light as compared to further down the line due to the straight stitch we take at first. Is there any other way around to cover up that?
Mary,
I have worked this stitch, thanks to your introduction and instruction, and I while this may seem silly…how would you (if you can and I’m sure you can as you’re Super Stitch Woman) on a curve for letters.
I think this would look lovely when embroidering words, but I’m not sure if there are any tips or suggestions or things you’ve experienced that would be wise to avoid or keep in mind if using this stitch for lettering. Particularly with my two arch nemesis the “S” and the “O”.
Much thanks,
Tracie
Hi, Tracie – you might want to check out my hand embroidered lettering lessons, here: https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2009/10/hand-embroidery-lettering-and-text.html Heavy chain stitch works well on curves and letters. If the curves are tight, you might want to loosen up tension a bit on the stitches as you take the curves, so that both side of the chain stitch stays flat.
I have made a trial run with this stitch and like it, but with short straight lines (cross-line of an “A”), how do you make the ends thicker like the rest of the line? It ends up looking like a diamond ().
Hi, Holly – this tutorial might give you some ideas: https://needlenthread.wpengine.com/2013/02/stitch-glitch-hungarian-braided-chain-starts-stops.html
Thanks! Basically, it seems you’re doing an open chain stitch at the end.
Mary, all I want to say is a huge thank you for all of your sharing and caring, THANK YOU MARY
as an embroiderer I’m hopeless, but your perfection keeps me hoping.
Kindest regards from UK Marg
This site looks amazing!! I do Victorian Ribbon work and what a compliment to what I already do!!
Mary you are so helpful and your work is beautiful. What brand of needles do you use?
Thank you.
Hi, Rose – I use different brands of needles, but my favorite needles are, by far, Bohin needles from France. Anita’s Little Stitches online sells a nice array of them, if you’re looking for them.
I have seen that called reverse heavy chain stitch, and any reverse chain stitch is much easier and more regular than forward-working chain stitch
Hi, Claudia – many people find it easier to work a chain stitch in the reverse direction, but it’s not generally as quick to work as the forward motion of a regular chain. I find I can make a consistently neater chain stitch in a forward direction much more quickly than a consistent reverse chain. Heavy chain stitch (which involves the reverse direction plus working back two stitches) can only be done in the reverse direction. The heavy chain stitch could not be accomplished in a forward motion, achieving the same results.
Hi there, I hope you are well, and thanks for the tutorial. Can I ask please, is it possible to make this stitch go around tight corners? I’ve tried, but it just ends up as a lumpy mess! Thanks.
I’d probably reduce the “passes” under the chains by one chain, while taking a tight corner.