In deciding what stitch to use for the stem, foremost in my mind is the fact that a lily stem is reasonably smooth. Therefore I should use a linear stitch that is reasonably smooth too.
My options could be:
- stem stitch
- coral knot stitch – worked close together, not spaced apart
- couching
- chain stitch
So, which one should I use? There is no compunction to use a stitch that I haven’t already used. Some of the best Mountmellick embroidery only has a very limited palette of stitches that they use in varied ways to create interest.
Really, any of them would work ok. I feel less excited about couching and chain stitch though, so my choice is between stem stitch and coral knot stitch. I’ve already used both of them, so maybe using coral knot stitch in a different way would be a good option.
The coral knot stitch that I have already used is reasonably well spaced, with about 2 mm between each knot. I could therefore use coral knot stitch that is much more closely spaced, making it look more like a twisted cord, instead of a line with knots along it.
Working it like this can be a little tricky. In my classes, I find that students need to practice it quite a bit to get it working right. Its because you need to work the stitches really close together – practically underneath the previous stitch.
Insert the needle right next to the last stitch, even to the point of slightly underneath the previous stitch, just to the right of the stem guide line. 
Come up on the left of the line, just a few threads away from where the needle went in, right next to the previous knot. Leave the needle in the fabric for now.
Take the thread coming out of the previous knot around the needle in an anticlockwise direction.
Pull the needle through…
…thereby tightening the stitch into a nice neat knot.
If you’re finding it a little difficult, practice it first with some other thread, such as thick perle cotton or even some 4 ply knitting cotton.
If it seems too spaced apart, try inserting your needle even closer to the previous knot than you think seems reasonable. And then bring it out again closer than you think is reasonable. It might just end up being about right.
And for the record, in Mountmellick embroidery, coral knot stitch is often called “snail trail”. 🙂
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Yvette, a couple of questions: Are you starting at the bottom of the stem working up (it appears so)? And, what happens (how do you work the stitch) going through the two leaves on either side – is their enough room to pass through with no problem or are you stitching over this passage? Sorry if the questions seem basic, but this is my first MM project.
Hi Sharon – all questions are good questions! (Within reason…)
Yes, I am starting from the base of the stem and working up. When I get to the leaves, they go right in to where the stem is, so I found that I had to stop on one side and start stitching on the other. If there was enough room, I’d stitch right through. Neither is right, neither is wrong. So however yours ends up, that will be fine. Have you go any photos of your progress somewhere on a blog or a flickr account somewhere that we can enjoy?!