Turkey Rug Stitch Video Tutorial

LEVEL: Intermediate

USE: Filling shapes, creating gorgeous tuft shadings

OTHER NAMES: Ghiordes knot, velvet work

The Turkey Rug stitch, known also as Velvet Work, is a gorgeous stitch that creates a tuft of thread. You can use different thread colors to create beautiful shadings, especially when it’s trimmed.

Let me show you how to create this gorgeous velvet work shading!

Watch Video Tutorial

Before we start, when stitching the Turkey Rug, remember not to knot or secure the end of your thread.

We’ll be stitching this beautiful shading by creating a few rows of Turkey Rug stitch in each color.

The thread colors I used are: DMC 517 (the lighter blue at the bottom and top), DMC 803 (the medium blue), DMC 820 (the darkest shade of blue), and DMC 164 (the middle green shade).

STEP 1

Start by taking the thread through the fabric from the front. Do not pull it through entirely, leave a small tail on the front.

STEP 2

Bring the needle up, slightly to the left side of where you first went down. Be careful not to pull through the tail.

STEP 3

Take the needle back down on the right of where you first went down, while holding the thread in a loop above the working area.

STEP 4

Come back up again in the exact hole where you first started and tighten the loop. This was our first completed stitch.

STEP 5

We’ll be starting the second stitch now. Hold the thread loop out of the way and go down again at the right side of the first completed stitch.

STEP 6

Bring your needle up again through the same or very close to the end of the last stitch. Make sure to keep the loop in place.

STEP 7

Take your needle back down at the right of the starting point of this second stitch. Hold the working thread above the working area.

STEP 8

Leaving a small loop, bring the needle back up again in the same hole as the starting point of this second stitch. Draw the needle and thread to tighten this second stitch.

STEP 9

Repeat the same process until you completed the line.

STEP 10

You will use the same technique to work a second row below the previous ones while holding the row above out of the way.

STEP 11

Continue working rows below the previous ones, working your way from left to right. You can also use different thread colors, the same as I did, and create stunning shadings.

STEP 12

When you finished filling the entire area, trim the loops to the desired length.

TIP: Just like a hairdresser, be mindful when trimming, better to trim gradually than cut everything too short in the first place.

Turkey Rug Stitch in Embroidery Projects

Contrary to its appearance, the turkey rug stitch can actually be really versatile. You can get creative and use it to achieve all kinds of fluffy textures.

From filling small shapes to stitching fluffy flowers, grass, hair, and even fringed borders, this is a great stitch to incorporate into your projects to create interesting textures.

Turkey-Rug-Stitch-makenstitch — Turkey rug stitch filling

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More Embroidery Stitches

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Turkey Rug Stitch Video Tutorial