10 Common Hand Embroidery Stitches for Embroidered Shirts

Embroidered shirts are more than just a trend—they’re a fusion of personal creativity and timeless craftsmanship.

Whether it’s a subtle design on the collar of a button-up or a bold anime character across the back of a hoodie, hand embroidery allows you to turn everyday clothing into wearable art.

And to create truly beautiful embroidered pieces, it all starts with the stitches.

Each stitch carries its own personality, purpose, and texture. In this post, we’ll explore ten of the most common and versatile hand embroidery stitches that are perfect for decorating shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies.

With these stitches in your toolkit, you’ll be able to craft custom designs with confidence and flair.

Backstitch

The backstitch is one of the simplest and most essential stitches in embroidery. It creates clean, solid lines that are perfect for outlining shapes, text, or detailed illustrations.

To do a backstitch, you bring the needle up through the fabric, move forward a short distance, insert the needle down, and then bring it back up one stitch ahead.

Insert it back into the end of the last stitch to create a continuous line.

This stitch is especially useful when you want your outlines to be neat and sharp. It works beautifully for anime outlines, name embroidery, or fine borders around small symbols.

When done with even spacing, it gives your work a polished, professional look.

Satin Stitch

If you’re aiming to fill in a shape with a smooth, solid block of color, the satin stitch is your best friend.

This stitch involves laying threads side by side across a shape until the entire area is covered.

It’s great for filling small to medium spaces like flowers, clothing pieces on characters, or patches on jackets.

The key to a great satin stitch is tension—keep it firm but not too tight. If your fabric puckers, you may be pulling too hard. T

ry outlining your shape first with a backstitch to help guide your fill.

Use a hoop to keep the fabric taut, and you’ll get that shiny, smooth effect that makes this stitch so eye-catching.

Stem Stitch

The stem stitch is ideal for curved lines. It has a soft, rope-like texture that makes it perfect for embroidery designs that flow or swirl.

To stitch it, you bring your needle up through the fabric and insert it slightly ahead, then bring it back up halfway between the two points.

Make sure your thread stays on the same side as you work to create the signature twisted look.

It’s perfect for things like vines, cursive lettering, flowing hair, and curved outlines.

Compared to the backstitch, stem stitch adds a bit more movement and texture to your embroidery.

Running Stitch

This is probably the simplest stitch of all—just a series of evenly spaced up-and-down motions that look like a dashed line. Don’t let its simplicity fool you, though.

The running stitch is useful for borders, lightweight outlines, and even minimalist design work.

You can use it to create frames around patches, subtle geometric shapes, or decorative lines on shirt sleeves.

If you go over it again with staggered stitches in the gaps, you can even mimic a solid line.

It’s also a great stitch for beginners to practice spacing and rhythm.

Split Stitch

The split stitch adds a bit more dimension to your outlines.

It looks like a finer version of the stem stitch but with a slightly more textured surface. To do it, you make a straight stitch, then bring your needle up through the middle of that stitch, splitting the thread.

Continue working in small, tight lines, always piercing through the center of the previous stitch.

This gives the line a slightly raised appearance, making it ideal for borders or detailed line work that needs a bit of texture.

Use it for facial outlines, character features, or areas where you want depth without bulk.

Chain Stitch

This decorative stitch forms a series of linked loops that resemble a chain.

It’s bold and textured, so it really stands out on shirts and sweatshirts.

To make a chain stitch, bring your needle up, insert it back near the same hole, and catch the loop with the next upward motion of the needle. Pull gently to create a small loop, and repeat.

This stitch works great for stylized outlines, bold letters, or decorative borders.

You can even fill areas using a spiral chain pattern. If you’re looking for something more eye-catching than a simple line, the chain stitch delivers.

French Knot

Tiny, textured, and surprisingly impactful, the French knot is one of the most versatile stitches for adding details.

It’s created by wrapping thread around the needle one or two times and inserting it back into the fabric near the entry point.

The result is a small raised knot that sits neatly on the surface.

You can use French knots for flower centers, eyes, stars, or texture accents on clothing.

When grouped together, they can even fill shapes with a pebble-like texture.

Just make sure your thread is taut and your needle sharp—it takes practice, but it’s worth it.

Lazy Daisy

Also known as the detached chain stitch, the Lazy Daisy is perfect for creating small petal or teardrop shapes.

It’s done by forming a loop and anchoring the top with a small straight stitch.

This stitch is ideal for adding floral motifs to your shirts—whether it’s around a neckline, scattered across a hem, or part of a larger nature-themed design.

You can use it alone or in clusters to create simple, charming flower patterns. It’s quick, easy to learn, and looks elegant without being overwhelming.

Blanket Stitch

Traditionally used to edge blankets, the blanket stitch is also fantastic for decorating shirt hems, cuffs, and pockets.

It’s done by making perpendicular stitches along the edge, each caught in a loop of thread.

This creates a neat, ladder-like finish that adds both structure and visual interest.

It’s a great way to secure raw edges on handmade shirt patches or to add a bold frame around a design.

Try using a contrasting thread color for even more visual impact, especially on thicker fabrics like hoodies.

Seed Stitch

The seed stitch, sometimes called scatter stitch, is made up of tiny, randomly spaced straight stitches that resemble scattered seeds.

It’s used to add texture or shading in a subtle, organic way.

This stitch is particularly useful as a background filler—it can add depth without overwhelming the main design.

You can also use it for areas like grass, sky, or fur details.

The randomness is part of its charm, so don’t worry too much about perfect spacing. Just keep the stitch lengths small and vary the direction slightly for a natural effect.

Matching Stitches with Shirt Types

Different stitches work better on different types of fabric.

For example, lightweight cotton shirts are best suited to flat stitches like backstitch or stem stitch, while heavier sweatshirts and hoodies can handle more textured stitches like chain,

French knot, or blanket stitch.

If your shirt fabric stretches, consider using an iron-on stabilizer to prevent warping.

Also, try to keep knots on the back of the shirt as small and smooth as possible so the fabric lays flat when worn.

Thread and Needle Tips for Hand Embroidery on Shirts

Choosing the right tools is just as important as selecting the stitch:

• Thread: Use six-strand cotton floss for most designs. Split it down to 2–3 strands for detailed work and keep all six for bold fills.
• Needles: Embroidery needles (#7–10) work well for cotton shirts. For thicker fabric, use crewel or chenille needles.
• Hoop: Always use an embroidery hoop for stability, especially when working near seams or stretchy areas like sweatshirts.
• Stabilizer: For stretchy fabrics like jersey or fleece, an iron-on stabilizer on the inside of the shirt prevents puckering and warping.

Final Thoughts

Hand embroidery is more than just a craft—it’s a conversation between fabric and imagination.

Learning these 10 stitches gives you not only the ability to bring art to your clothing but also the power to transform everyday garments into pieces full of meaning, texture, and identity.

Whether you’re stitching a subtle flower near the neckline or a sprawling anime scene across the back, each thread you pull through the fabric adds a personal touch that lasts.

Start simple. Practice intentionally. And as your skills grow, so will your creativity.

Your shirt isn’t just a shirt anymore—it’s your canvas.