Table of Contents
Unlocking Creativity with the Simple Straight Stitch
The straight stitch is the yoga pose of embroidery—simple to begin, endlessly deep to explore. peaceofpi studio shows how one motion, repeated thoughtfully, can define shapes, create texture, and unify color. No fancy stitch vocabulary required—just a needle, thread, and your pace.
The setup is beginner-friendly: felt for a firm base, a thin cotton on top, and small rounded fabric shapes in blues, greens, and pinks that leave space for the background to breathe. The straight stitch does the rest—surrounding, connecting, and quietly pulling the whole composition together.
Pro tip
- Keep your needle moving comfortably. The creator alternates between working on the surface (picking up multiple small stitches at a time) and a stab-stitch motion (front to back). Both are valid; let your hand decide.
Watch out
- Small pins are, well, small. Use a magnetic pincushion so they don’t migrate to the floor.
Quick check
- If your piece feels busy, leave more of the base fabric visible. That breathing room is key to the collage’s calm.
From the comments
- Viewers loved how simple stitches add up to a complex look. One noted that copying closely at first felt like “following a recipe,” then they gradually made it their own.
If you plan to mix hand and machine methods down the line, you can still keep this project purely hand-stitched today. Later, it’s easy to incorporate light machine work if you have an embroidery sewing machine in your toolkit.
Crafting Your Base: Clean Edges Every Time
A neat base lets you focus on design later. The tutorial begins with a felt square and a larger piece of thin cotton fabric—big enough to fold over all sides. The maker folds, clips, and secures those folds with straight stitches in matching thread so any stray punctures are a non-issue once the collage goes on top.
Felt and Fabric Prep
Center your felt on the larger cotton so you have an even fold allowance all around. Wonder clips are the quiet MVPs here—no distortion, no surprise shifts while you stitch the perimeter.
- Fold the first side over felt; clip to hold.
- Add a second clip on the opposite side to prevent drift.
- Work a few straight stitches along the first folded edge, keeping tension gentle and even.
Quick check - Are your edges sitting flat? If the cotton hikes up, nudge the fold back and add a clip before taking more stitches.
Mastering Mitered Corners
Corners are wrapped like a gift: fold once, fold again, then clip. Take a few straight stitches to hold each corner before moving to the next side. Repeat around the square and knot off. You’ve got clean edges—no raw threads, no fuss.
From the comments
- Several beginners noted how calming it felt to start with a tidy base—fewer variables, more flow.
Designing Your Fabric Collage
With the base ready, it’s playtime. The creator chooses solid fabrics in blue, pink, green, and olive, aiming for rounded shapes that don’t completely cover the background. The result is airy and modern—colorful forms with negative space to match.
Embracing Rounded Shapes
Freehand cutting is welcome here; slight irregularities add life. If you prefer more control, sketch a shape with an erasable marker first or fold fabric to cut symmetrical ovals. The key is to keep variety: small with large, tall with squat, nested and overlapped where it serves the composition.
Pro tip - Place your larger shapes first to anchor the eye, then layer smaller, contrasty accents to knit the design together.
Watch out
- Don’t cover every inch. The light green base is part of the design—and in this video, it was a recycled cotton bed sheet dyed by the creator.
Quick check
- Step back. Does your arrangement feel balanced? Does a color repeat enough times to feel intentional without becoming matchy-matchy?
If you ever mount a slow stitch piece for mixed-media experiments, magnetic supports can be helpful. For machine users, some prefer magnetic embroidery frames for easy placement during any optional pre- or post-stitch embellishment sessions.
Securing Your Vision: Basting and Thread Selection
The Art of Thread Basting
Pin each shape with tiny appliqué pins, then baste with small front stitches and longer jumps on the back. The creator keeps the basting barely visible on the front to avoid distraction while stitching. Pins come out as you go.
From the comments - “Do basting stitches always need to be removed?” The creator says not necessarily—remove them if they show on the front or get in the way on the back; otherwise leave them.
Pro tip
- Clip basting threads on the back first, then lift from the front with the dull side of your needle to avoid snags later.
Choosing Your Color Palette
Bring in trays of six-stranded embroidery floss. The maker selects colors that match the collage—often both a light and a dark version of each hue for flexibility. Neutrals (white, off-white, gray, black) stay on standby for contrast or unifying runs of texture.
Watch out
- Too many near-identical threads can slow decisions. If two shades are close, pick one you’ll use all over.
From the comments
- On thread prep: the creator sometimes uses beeswax/conditioner if thread feels dry, but often just smooths the length with their fingers before stitching.
If you work between hand and machine projects, you might keep a favorite quick-access hoop system nearby. Some stitchers like the clamp-and-go feel of a snap hoop monster for non-hand phases, while others prefer a strong grab from a mighty hoop when working with layered textiles.
Bringing It to Life: Decorative Stitching with Straight Stitch Variations
Outlining and Edging Your Shapes
Outline each collage piece with straight stitches—choose contrasting thread for pop. You can stitch from the top in short repeats or use a stab-stitch motion; the tutorial shows both. As outlines accumulate, they define each shape and create tactile rhythm across the surface.
Edge finishing stays on-theme: the creator secures raw edges with straight stitches too, coming up from the back, wrapping toward the back, and taking the next stitch right beside. It’s a tidy edge treatment that honors the “one stitch” challenge.
Quick check
- Does each shape feel seated in the composition? If an outline color fights too hard, switch to a neighbor shade (slightly lighter or darker) to find the harmony.
Creating Texture with Running Stitches and Patterns
Now the fun multiplies: groupings of straight stitches, tiny crosses/plus signs, dense stitched circles, and satin-like fills (really just straight stitches packed tightly). A darker accent color adds intentional contrast in spots, making certain marks jump forward.
Then comes the unifier: horizontal running stitches in white. Starting about a third down from the top, the maker travels across the piece, stitch by stitch (you can stack two or three if your layers allow). Parallel rows continue from top to bottom, tying a lively collage into a single conversation.
From the comments
- One viewer asked why the stitches are so close compared to quilting specs. The creator explained these are decorative, expressive marks rather than functional quilting—there are no rules here; density is an artistic choice.
Watch out
- With lots of layered fabric and prior stitches, it’s easy to snag. Take one stitch at a time where needed, and guide your needle tip to avoid catching threads underneath.
Pro tip
- If spacing drifts, lightly mark guide lines with an erasable pencil—kept faint so they disappear under stitches or brushing.
Quick check
- Step back again. You’re looking for a mix of bold contrast and quiet repetition. If an area feels heavy, echo a lighter mark nearby or leave breathing space.
If you ever translate these hand motifs into machine texture, it’s useful to know how your tools hold fabric. Some readers rely on a magnetic embroidery hoop when adding light machine embellishments after handwork. Choose gear thoughtfully so your hand stitches stay safe and undisturbed.
Your Finished Slow Stitch Collage: What’s Next?
Admire the front—and peek at the back too, where the abstract path of your stitches forms its own artwork. The video hints at many possibilities for finished pieces and notes that the description includes links to project ideas.
Ideas to consider
- Frame as wall art (float mount to celebrate those neat edges)
- Stitch onto a journal cover or soft panel
- Combine multiple squares into a sampler grid or fabric book
- Turn into a pincushion or small decorative pillow
From the comments
- A beginner shared that starting by “following the recipe” built confidence—then choosing their own colors made the piece truly theirs.
Pro tip
- Keep the learning momentum going. Make a small series: same palette, different placements; or same layout, new palette. You’ll build a library of marks and color instincts fast.
If you’re balancing handwork with machine-stitched experiments as your practice grows, curate your equipment. Many crafters keep an eye on the best embroidery machine for beginners lists to complement their hand-stitching journey, along with add-ons like magnetic hoops for embroidery machines for occasional, gentle fabric handling.
From the comments (Q&A highlights)
- Do basting stitches have to come out? Only if they show or interfere—otherwise they can stay.
- What thread? Two strands of 6-stranded embroidery floss throughout.
- Thread conditioner? Optional—use if thread feels dry; smoothing with fingers often helps.
- Background fabric? A recycled, dyed cotton sheet in light green, per the creator.
Safety note
- Tiny appliqué pins are easy to lose. Corral them on a magnetic pincushion and check your workspace before you stand up.
Closing encouragement Slow stitching rewards presence over perfection. With one stitch, you’ve built edges, shapes, outlines, patterns, and a quiet field of running lines. When you’re ready for another, keep the format: a tidy square, rounded shapes, and your straight stitch vocabulary—expanded one mark at a time.
If you’d like to share your progress or finished piece, follow the creator’s suggestion and tag them so they can celebrate with you. And if you prefer to keep making in private, that’s slow stitching at its best too—mindful, personal, and entirely yours.
For makers who bounce between hand and machine workflows, keep any helper tools gentle and supportive. Some stitchers like the flexible grip of a magnetic embroidery frames setup, while others experiment with a snap hoop monster or a trusty mighty hoop depending on fabric thickness and layering. Choose what serves your art—and remember, for this project, a single hand stitch already does the heavy lifting.