hemstitches

Ornamental border stitching

Hemstitches are decorative stitches used in sewing where threads are drawn from the fabric and the remaining threads are gathered into small bundles, creating an ornamental openwork border.

The technique appears along hems and edges of fine linens, handkerchiefs, and tablecloths.

As a verb, to hemstitch is to create such work: She hemstitched the napkins by hand.

technique

openwork

Decorative pierced craftsmanship

fagotingOpenwork joining technique
needleworkThread-based textile craft
stitcheryOrnamental sewing craft

handwork · bundling · knotting · withdrawing · securing · finishing · bordering · mitering · corners · seams

decorative

embellishment

Decorative addition or exaggeration

ornamentationDecorative additions to something
edgingDecorative border material
trimmingCutting away excess

detailing · lacework · cutwork · filigree · border · fringe · picot · scalloping · insertion · embroidery

textiles

linen

Flax-derived textile

napkinsMealtime wiping cloths
tableclothsFabric covering tables
handkerchiefsPocket-sized fabric squares

curtains · pillowcases · heirloom · trousseau · christening · cotton · batiste · organza · voile · lawn

Opposites

decorative vs. plain sewing technique

hemstitchesrunning stitches

Basic in-out sewing technique

open-work vs. solid construction

hemstitchestopstitching

Decorative surface seam

decorative vs. plain sewing techniques

hemstitchesrunning stitch

Simplest hand-sewing technique

straight stitch · basting · machine stitching · blind stitch · tacking

Family

hemstitch, hemstitched, hemstitching

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G