Stitches

Blanket stitch

this stitch is the basic and oldest stitches used in Pałuki embroidery. It is very often made using padded running  stitch (basting). It is made by creating a loop from a thread pulled across the fabric.

Cord stitch (also known as: scroll stitch or back stitch).

It is made by inserting the needle from top, halfway through the previous stitch. All stitches should be of equal length.

Buttonhole stitch

is always made as padded running stitch (basting), there may also be an additional padding of chain stitch. The main rule is to hold the thread under the needle when pulling it out of the fabric. Then, a kind of ladder is created.

Satin stitch

always occurs with a padding – a running stitch or chain stitch. The padding threads are arranged perpendicular to the main stitch. Satin stitch should have stitches close enough to cover the background fabric.

Stitches that serve as backgrounds for other stitches: running stitch (basting) and chain stitch.
Running stitch (basting) involves running the thread alternately over and under the fabric
Chain stitch is formed by loops of thread being drawn through one another to make a chain.

Appliqué

is a technique where fabric shapes of another fabric are added to a background using a blanket stitch or buttonhole stitch. For appliqués, usually batiste, thin linen and tulle were used which were sewn on the right side of the fabric. Only appliqués made of thicker linen were sewn on the left side. In the case of new forms (tablecloths, napkins, table runners) the appliqué was always made of tulle attached to a linen background.

Threading technique

involves pulling the threads according to a specific pattern in tulle. A running stitch is used here where the thread is threaded through the tulle holes, according to its structure, in different directions.