How To Do The Ceylon Stitch – The Stitch That Looks Like Knitting

The ceylon stitch is a very fun and lesser known raised embroidery stitch that looks very similar to knitting. It’s a great stitch to fill in an area and add more texture to it. It is worked in rows, connected together in a similar manner to the detached buttonhole stitch.

Ceylon Stitch Tutorial

It’s helpful to have both an embroidery needle and tapestry needle (one with a blunt tip) for working this stitch.

Setting Up The Stitch

The ceylon stitch is worked across a foundational line of stitches, and then each row after builds off of the row above.

There are 2 different ways to make the foundational line:

• by making one long, horizontal stitch
• or by making a line of back stitches – I prefer to make a line of back stitches because I think it acts more as a guideline to keep the stitches structured and evenly spaced.

1. Start by making back stitches across the top of the shape.
2. Bring your needle and thread up directly below the start of the stitches and insert the needle under the first back stitch.
3. Pull the thread through so a small loop forms
4. Continue working your way from left to right, making loops through each of the back stitches. When you reach the end of the row, place your needle and thread down through the fabric to secure it.
5. Come up below the row of stitches you just made and place your needle (from right to left) through the crossed threads that form an “x” between the first and second loop.
6. Pull the needle and thread through. Repeat for each loop along the row.
7. Continue making rows of stitches until you have filled in the desired area.

How To Finish The Stitches

You’ll notice that the edges along the rows of stitches are secured to the fabric. However, the middle of the stitches lay freely on top of the fabric, which can cause them to roll up and move around. If this is happening, it’s helpful to secure the very bottom row of the stitches by starting and ending each loop through the fabric.

Helpful Tips

• Experiment with more or less thread to see how it changes the way this stitch appears.
• Making larger back stitches will space the looped stitches out more which will make the stitched area appear more sparse.
• If you want a really dense look, shorten your foundational back stitches so there is more of them per square inch of fabric. Securing the looped stitches slightly tighter will also help.
• Try to be very careful when you are making the loops. Before proceeding to the next stitch, try adjusting each loop with your needle to ensure it’s the right size and in the correct position. This will help keep things consistent and even.
• If you find that your needle is catching on the embroidery thread, you may find it helpful to use a blunt tapestry needle.

Variations Of The Ceylon Stitch

This stitch is a great one to use with a variety of different colors. You can alternate or change the colors you use for each row to add stripes or a pattern. This would also be a fun stitch to do with variegated floss!

Embroidering Irregular Shapes and Patterns

If you want to fill in an irregular shape, you’ll have to increase or decrease the amount of loops along each row.

As an example, here is how you could embroider a sweater.

Knit Sweater Tutorial

This sweater is stitched in three parts: the torso and then each of the arms.

• Start by making a few stitches along the tops of the shoulders and a few along the center of the collar.
• Make 2 rows of looped stitches along the foundational stitches for the left and right shoulders.
• For the 3rd row, you’ll continue making looped stitches all the way across the torso, this time including the 3 back stitches along the collar.
• Then continue filling in the shape with rows of ceylon stitches.

You can alternate the colors used for different rows of the stitches. For example, this sweater used:

• 4 rows of dark blue
• 2 light blue
• 4 dark blue
• 2 light blue

• Finish the bottom of the sweater with vertical satin stitches.
• Both of the sleeves are filled in the same way – make a row of 4 back stitches along the seam between the torso and the sleeve.
• Make 2 looped stitches along the first 2 foundational back stitches. Then start another row of looped stitches, this time filling in the entire row.
• Fill in the rest of the entire sleeve with rows of ceylon stitches.
• Fill in the cuffs of the sleeves with vertical satin stitches.

Ceylon Stitch Video Tutorial

Books Referenced

To ensure accuracy and clarity in my stitch tutorials, I reference a variety of trusted sources.

• Mary Thomas’s Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches by Mary Thomas (1935)
• Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book by Erica Wilson (1973)

What’s Next?

If you enjoyed the ceylon stitch, I think you’ll love this raised stitch sampler.

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