Learn The Basics Of Drawn Thread Embroidery
Drawn thread embroidery is a technique in embroidery that involves removing the threads of an evenly woven fabric and then making decorative stitches to manipulate the threads. It can result in beautiful, intricate patterns and designs.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn the basics of drawn thread work, including how to remove threads, weaving them into the fabric, and how to manipulate the threads using the hem stitch.
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Drawn Thread Embroidery Tutorial
Supplies You’ll Need
- Embroidery scissors
- Embroidery floss or pearl cotton – available on Amazon
- Tapestry needle – available Amazon
- Embroidery hoop
- Even weave or linen fabric – available on Amazon
Drawn thread embroidery uses even weave or linen for the foundational fabric. These fabrics are evenly woven, meaning there are the same amount of warp and weft (horizontal and vertical) threads throughout the entire piece of fabric.
Select a fabric that has a thread count that’s around 25-32 threads per square inch. The threads of the fabric should be somewhat open and easily visible, which will make it easier to count and remove individual threads.
Note: While Aida fabric is considered to be an evenly woven fabric, it won’t work for this style of embroidery.
Getting Started
The process of drawn thread work can be broken down into 3 different steps:
- first you remove the threads
- then the edges of the fabric are secured with stitches or by weaving the removed threads back into the fabric
- finally, stitches are made to manipulate the drawn threads
Before we get started, it’s helpful to plan out how many stitches in an area you’re going to remove. You’ll want to count the vertical threads that are present in the area so you can plan out how you want to group the drawn threads (usually in groups of 2, 3, or 4).
For this example, we’ll keep it simple and work the stitch in groups of 2, so I drew out 64 threads.
Removing The Threads
Carefully cut the horizontal stitches in the center of the area you want to do the drawn thread work.
For this example, I cut 7 horizontal threads. Be very careful to only cut the horizontal threads, leaving all of the vertical threads intact.
Securing And Weaving Threads
Next, you’ll carefully remove one horizontal thread. You’ll need to remove enough so that you can thread the needle with this strand. For this example, I removed 32 stitches.
Repeat along both sides of the cut threads. Then thread the strand on a tapestry needle and weave the thread you removed back into the fabric 3 or 4 times. Make sure you pull the thread to the back of the embroidery to finish it.
The sides will become more dense looking, but it shouldn’t be super obvious where you have woven the threads back in. Run your needle across the area to flatten the stitches.
Remove and weave all of the cut threads one at a time. Leave the loose strands on the back until you’re completely finished just in case you need to readjust anything.
Once you’re all done, the fabric should look something like this.
How To Hem Stitch
Thread your needle with a piece of embroidery thread. To secure the strand, you can tie a knot in the end or work 2 or 3 back stitches starting in the top right corner 2 or 3 stitches away from the drawn threads. Then skip two threads and place your needle up through the fabric.
Then place your needle and thread across the 2 threads and back down through the fabric.
Come up to the left of the 2 threads with needle and thread.
Then go back down through the fabric, 2 stitches up into the fabric, away from the drawn threads. Repeat across the entire top area of the drawn threads.
To secure the threads or start a new thread, you can place the thread underneath existing stitches. Make sure to trim the thread close to the fabric so no stray threads show through to the front.
After you have made the hem stitch across the entire top area, the embroidery should look something like this.
You can repeat the hem stitches the same way along the bottom of the stitches. Or you can make a diagonal hem stitch, which will form a zig-zag like appearance.
Diagonal Hem Stitch
To make a diagonal hem stitch, stagger the hem stitches. Start by making a hem stitch across 1 vertical thread. Then for the rest of the stitches, make hem stitches across 2 threads. When you get to the very last stitch, make the stitch across 1 vertical thread.
Additional Learning And Sources
This post goes over the very basics of drawn thread work. There is so much more! To learn more advanced techniques and variations, you can find some helpful content online and in the embroidery books that are listed below.
- Weldon’s Practical Drawn Thread – available on Antique Pattern Library
- Drawn Thread by Therese Dillmont – available on Internet Archive
- Good Housekeeping New Complete Book Of Needlecraft – available on Internet Archive
- Drawn Thread Stitches – RSN Stitch Bank
- RSN Book Of Embroidery – available on Amazon
Amanda is a hand embroidery artist and teacher. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get inspired and creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.