Chain stitch 1

Chain stitch

Traditional embroidery in chain stitch on a Kazakh rug, contemporary.

Chain stitch is a sewing andembroidery technique in which a seriesof looped stitches form a chain-likepattern.[1] Chain stitch is an ancientcraft - examples of surviving Chinesechain stitch embroidery worked in silkthread have been dated to the WarringStates period (5th-3rd century BC).[2]

Handmade chain stitch embroiderydoes not require that the needle passthrough more than one layer of fabric.For this reason the stitch is an effectivesurface embellishment near seams onfinished fabric. Because chain stitchescan form flowing, curved lines, theyare used in many surface embroiderystyles that mimic "drawing" in thread.[3]

Chain stitches are also used in making tambour lace, needlelace, macramé and crochet.

Applications

Machine embroidery in chain stitch on a voile curtain, China, early21st century.

Hand embroidery

Chain stitch and its variations are fundamental toembroidery traditions of many cultures, includingKashmiri numdahs, Iranian Resht work, Central Asiansuzani, Hungarian Kalotaszeg "written embroidery",[4]

Jacobean embroidery, and crewelwork.

Machine sewing and embroidery

Chain stitch was the stitch used by early sewingmachines; however, as it is easily unraveled fromfabric, this was soon replaced with the more securelockstitch. This ease of unraveling of the single-threadchain stitch, more specifically known as ISO4915:1991 stitch 101, continues to be exploited for

industrial purposes in the closure of bags for bulk products.[5] [6]

Machine embroidery in chain stitch, often in traditional hand-worked crewel designs, is found on curtains, bedlinens, and upholstery fabrics.

Chain stitch 2

Variants

Hand Variants

"Drawing" or outlining in basic chainstitch

Variations of the basic chain stitch include:• Back-stitched chain stitch• Braided stitching• Cable chain stitch• Knotted chain stitch• Open chain stitch• Petal chain stitch• Rosette chain stitch• Singalese chain stitch• Twisted chain stitch• Wheat-ear stitch• Zig-zag chain stitch

Hand Stitch gallery

Basic chain stitch Braid stitch Cable chain stitch Knotted chain stitch

Open chain stitch Petal chain stitch Rosette chain stitch Rosette chain line

Chain stitch 3

Singalesechainstitch

Twistedchain stitch

Wheat-earstitch

Zig-zag chain stitch

Machine Variants• The Basic Chain stitch is made by first sending the needle down through the material. Then, as the needle rises

upward, the friction of the thread against the fabric is sufficient to form a small loop on the underside of thematerial. That loop is caught by a circular needle which is beneath the work. The machine then moves thematerial forward projecting the loop on the underside from the previous stitch. The next drop of the needle goesthrough the previous loop. The circular needle then releases the first loop and picks up the new loop and theprocess repeats.[7]

• The Double chain stitch uses two threads. It is rarely used in today's machines except for ornamental purposesbecause it is uses a lot of thread.[7]

Machine Stitch gallery

Formation of the double locking chain stitch

Basic chain stitch Double chain stitch

Chain stitch 4

Notes[1] Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (March 1992). ISBN 0-89577-059-8, p. 32-33[2] Gillow, John, and Bryan Sentance: World Textiles, Bulfinch Press/Little, Brown, 1999, ISBN 0-8212-2621-5, p. 178[3] Gillow and Sentance: World Textiles, p. 178[4] Gillow and Sentance: World Textiles, p. 178-179[5] Union Special, Closing Machines BC100 and 80800 (http:/ / www. unionspecial. de/ ftp/ literature/ BagClosing. pdf), p. 2, , retrieved

2009-05-26[6] American & Efird, ISO Stitch Terminology (http:/ / www. amefird. com/ stitchtypematrixflyer2. pdf), p. 1, , retrieved 2009-05-28[7] 1902 Encyclopedia (http:/ / www. 1902encyclopedia. com/ S/ SEW/ sewing-machines. html)

References• Virginia Churchill Bath, Needlework in America, Viking Press, 1979 ISBN 0-670-50575-7• S.F.A. Caulfield and B.C. Saward, The Dictionary of Needlework, 1885.• Mrs. Archibald Christie. Samplers and Stitches, a handbook of the embroiderer's art, London 1920, 1989

facsimile: Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-4796-6, or online at Project Gutenberg (http:/ / www. gutenberg. org/ files/20386/ 20386-h/ 20386-h. htm)

• John Gillow and Bryan Sentance: World Textiles, Bulfinch Press/Little, Brown, 1999, ISBN 0-8212-2621-5• Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., March 1992, ISBN

0-89577-059-8

External links• Kalotaszeg embroidery at MagyarMuseum.org (http:/ / magyarmuzeum. org/ index. php?projectid=4&

menuid=223)

Article Sources and Contributors 5

Article Sources and ContributorsChain stitch  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=437435403  Contributors: Anna Frodesiak, Bardsandwarriors, Belovedfreak, CarminPolitano, CatherineMunro, Ctta0s, Dcljr,Dddstone, Deb, Dfred, Dominus, DonovanHawkins, Durova, Ellywa, Emika22, Finduilas 09, Gary2863, Hasanbay, Iamatifbashir, Interiot, J04n, Lady Tenar, Levineps, Loggie, Mary Corbet,Michael Hardy, MistyPony1994, PKM, Panjigally, Secretlondon, Shirt58, SilkTork, Solipsist, 20 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Kazakh rug chain stitch embroidery.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kazakh_rug_chain_stitch_embroidery.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Mark Heard from CanadaImage:Machine chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Machine_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: PKM, 1 anonymous editsImage:Chain stitch.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Chain_stitch.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Bohème, PKMFile:Chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H. Christie)Image:Braid stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Braid_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H. Christie)Image:Cable chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cable_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H. Christie)Image:Knotted chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Knotted_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H.Christie)Image:Open chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Open_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H. Christie)Image:Petal chain stitch.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Petal_chain_stitch.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs Archibald Christie)Image:Rosette chain stitch.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rosette_chain_stitch.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs Archibald Christie)Image:Rosette chain line.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rosette_chain_line.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs Archibald Christie)Image:Singalese chain stitch.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Singalese_chain_stitch.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs ArchibaldChristie)Image:Twisted chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Twisted_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H.Christie)Image:Wheatear stitch.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wheatear_stitch.gif  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs Archibald Christie)Image:Zig zag chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Zig_zag_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Grace Christie (Mrs. Archibald H.Christie)Image:G&bani.gif  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:G&bani.gif  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: PanjigallyFile:Machine basic chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Machine_basic_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/S/SEW/sewing-machines.htmlImage:Machine double chain stitch.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Machine_double_chain_stitch.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:http://www.1902encyclopedia.com/S/SEW/sewing-machines.html

LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unportedhttp:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/