Fern stitch tutorial

Fern stitch

This is a quick tutorial on the fern stitch. When I first learned this stitch it was described to me as a closed fly stitch. It’s a versatile stitch that you can use to make fern like leaves, leaf veins, or simple branching flower stems. It can also be paired with French knots or lazy daisies to make more complex branches and flowers.

Begin by drawing a guide line with an air erasable or water erasable fabric marker.

Bring your needle up at the top end of the drawn line. Pull the thread through.

Insert your needle into the drawn line (the spacing is up to you) and then back up again to the side of the central line.

Pull the thread through.

Insert the needle into the opposite side of the central line and then back up at the end of the first stitch. Pull the thread through.

Repeat the stitch down the length of the drawn line varying the lengths of the side branches if desired.

Here are some ideas of what can be done with the fern stitch.

Happy Stitching!