Embroidery Stitches For Filling In Large Areas – (Satin Stitch Alternatives)
If you have ever tried to fill in a large area with the satin stitch, you may have realized that it doesn’t always turn out as well as you may have liked it to. The satin stitch is a very versatile stitch, but it isn’t always ideal to use across larger areas. The stitches can pull the fabric, loosen over time, and may not lay very neatly. Without tension on the fabric, the stitches tend to lose their structure.
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives! This post will share with you some embroidery stitches for filling in large areas. Some of the stitches are similar to the satin stitch but will work much better.
I created a small sampler pattern so you can follow along! Each shape uses a different fill stitch.
Embroidery Stitches For Filling In Large Areas
Block Shading
Block shading is a variation of the satin stitch. In fact, it involves making shorter satin stitches and slightly overlapping the rows. Using different shades of a single color it’s a great choice for shading in a larger shape.
For this example, I chose 3 shades of golden yellow. I will be working this stitch from dark to light.
Step 1: Divide the shape into 3 sections. Beginning with the darkest color, make a row of satin stitches across the first marked section.
Step 2: Using the next lighter shade of the color, make satin stitches across the next marked section. The bottom of these stitches should end slightly into and in between the first row of stitches.
Step 3: Using the lightest color, work the next marked row, again overlapping these stitches in between the stitches along the row below.
Long and Short Stitch
The long and short stitch is another stitch that is great to use to blend colors together. Compared to block shading, it’s easier to achieve a more subtle transition between the colors with this technique because the stitch length is varied and the stitches overlap more into the adjacent color. Use 1 or 2 strands of thread depending on how fine of blend you want.
Step 1: Divide the shape into 3 sections. (For this example, we’ll start with the darkest color and use 2 strands of thread.) Begin by making long and short stitches of varying lengths across the bottom of the shape.
Step 2: Using the next lighter shade, make long and short stitches across the next marked area, overlapping them into the darker stitches below. It’s easiest to blend the two colors together by going up through the edge of the darker color.
Step 3: Using the lightest shade, make long and short stitches across the top marked area. Again, these should overlap into the stitches below.
Plate Stitch
The plate stitch is an open fill stitch that adds a lot of pattern and texture to an area.
Step 1: Begin by making a row of vertical stitches that are evenly spaced out across the shape.
Step 2: For the next row, make vertical stitches that slightly overlap the stitches in the row below, positioning them in the gaps between the previous stitches.
Step 3: Continue making vertical stitches across each row this way.
Step 4: Continue to fill in the area. To create a gradual color change, switch to a lighter shade once you get to the middle of the shape.
Brick Stitch
The brick stitch looks somewhat similar to the plate stitch but the fill is usually completely solid. The stitches are staggered along each row, which creates a brick-like pattern.
Step 1: Mark horizontal lines across the shape. For this example, I divided the leaf into 7 rows.
Begin by making alternating long and short stitches across the first and second row. The short stitches should span one row. The longer stitches should span 2 rows.
Step 2: The subsequent rows will span 2 rows. Make stitches that end directly above the short stitches along each row. There will be small gaps in between the stitches as you work each row.
Step 3: Fill in the very top row of the shape with stitches to fill in all of the negative space. (Some will only span one row to achieve full coverage of the fabric.)
This is just one way to work this stitch. Instead of working across the shape in horizontal rows, another option is to make vertical lines of back stitches that are staggered. The most important thing is that the end of each stitch in one row aligns with the middle of the stitch in the adjacent row.
Laid Work
Laid work involves laying threads across the surface of a shape and then securing the laid threads with smaller stitches on top.
Laying The Threads
The first step of laid work looks very similar to a satin stitch. However, the stitches are made in a slightly different way.
Lay the thread across the shape from A to B. Then come up directly below the end of the stitch (B) and begin laying the thread across the shape in the opposite direction from C to D. This will conserve thread because you won’t be trailing across the back of the fabric like you normally would with the satin stitch.
Laid Work With Shading
Lay some stitches across the shape using the darkest shade of the color. Towards the middle, leave some gaps in between the stitches.
Fill in the next 1/3 of the shape with the next lighter shade of the color, placing some of the stitches in between the darker stitches and adding a few spaced out towards the top.
Finally, fill in the rest of the shape with the lightest color.
To secure the stitches, make split stitches on top of the laid stitches. These should go in the opposite direction of the laid stitches to anchor them down.
Laid Work With Cross Bars
Lay stitches across the shape.
Using a contrasting color, place evenly spaced out diagonal stitches across the shape.
Then make diagonal stitches going in the opposite direction.
Secure the points where the threads cross over one another with small vertical stitches.
Romanian Stitch
The Romanian stitch is another great alternative to the satin stitch. When it’s executed carefully, you can achieve a relatively smooth appearance. Each stitch is anchored down by a small diagonal stitch.
Step 1: Make a vertical stitch across the shape.
Step 2: Come up beside the stitch a few mm inside of the shape and make a diagonal stitch across the stitch.
Step 3: Make another vertical stitch directly beside the previous stitch.
Step 4: Before you pull the thread all the way through, come up along the side of the previous stitch in line with the top of the diagonal stitch.
Step 5: Pull the thread tight and make a diagonal stitch across the thread.
Continue working steps 3-5 across the shape.
Couching
Couching involves securing a laid thread on top of the surface of the fabric and anchoring it with another piece of thread. This stitch has a fluffier texture to it and there are many variations of anchor stitches you can make to achieve drastically different results, but here is how to do the basic couching stitch.
Come up through the fabric with the thread you intend to lay on top of the fabric.
Using a separate strand of thread, begin making small stitches across the laid thread. I find it easiest to secure the thread along the outline of the shape first.
Then you can work from the outside-in, laying the thread along the shape to gradually fill it in.
When the shape is entirely filled in, thread the end of the laid thread and pull it through to the back of the fabric to end this stitch.
To finish the design, I used a satin stitch and the split stitch to fill in the leaves along the very top and bottom.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Let me know what your favorite fill stitch is for filling in larger areas. And take a look at this post for even fill stitch ideas.
Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.
