Stem stitch

Stem stitch is the next simple stitch that is generally used to decorate stems of plants  hence the name of the stitch. It is basically an outline stitch.
         It is generally done on a line from top to bottom. The needle is inserted in the cloth at an angle of the line drawn. This as angular deflection can be either towards the left or to the right.

The thread is first affixed on the top of the line drawn.the stitch is always worked from top to bottom of the line.

Then the needle is pierced into the cloth from a point below the starting point with a slight tilt to the left.

This is how it will look once a few stitches are done.

 

Here is a clear version of how the stem stitch looks when worked from right to left.


  Now we will see how the stitch looks when inclined to the  right.Just as before the thread is first fixed on the cloth.

Here in the second step the needle is pierced into the cloth from left to right .



This is how the second stitch will look like.


Now we can see that we have series of stem stitch with an angular tilt towards the right.

In this picture the stem stitch is worked keeping the needle inclined to the left.

         

      



In the above picture the needle is inclined to the right . 

Threaded stem stitch 

In this variation the original outline is done using stem stitch . Then a contrast colourway thread is woven around the stem stitch without moving the needle through the cloth. An example of shown below. 

At  first a regular row of stem stitch is worked along the line.

As you can see in the above picture the contrast coloured thread is wound around the existing stitch without piercing the cloth.

As you proceed along the whole length of the stem stich a different look comes up with two thread intertwined with each other.

This is the final output of Whipped stem stitch.

Here is a parrot filled using stem stitch .