The chain stitch is one of the oldest and most widely used embroidery stitches, appearing across cultures from ancient Egypt and China to India, Central Asia, and the Global North. Recognizable by its characteristic series of looped stitches that resemble a chain, it has been used to embellish clothing, household textiles, and ceremonial garments for thousands of years. In this workshop, you’ll learn and practice several variations—including the heavy, twisted, and cable chain—and work on a tulip pattern inspired by an Uzbek suzani. We’ll begin with an introduction to the stitch’s structure and its many applications, exploring historical and cultural examples from Europe, Asia, and Africa for context and inspiration. Open to all levels of experience, including beginners.
Date
Thursday, August 27th, 2026
Time
12:00-2:30 pm ET
Location
Zoom, a link will be sent to participants the day before class
Cost
$75
Recording
All World Embroidery Series sessions will be recorded. A link to each recording will be emailed to all registrants following the live session. Each link is live for three months after the live session.
Class Materials:
- Linen or cotton fabric
- Embroidery or Crewel needle
- Hoop
- Scissors
- Frixion pen or water-soluble embroidery pen for tracing the pattern
- Perle cotton no. 8 or 6-stranded floss
- 7 colors (2 shades of green and yellow, orange, magenta, blue, and gray) recommended, but students can use whatever they have at home
About the World Embroidery Series
TATTER’s World Embroidery Series is a celebration of global embroidery craft. Sewists will encounter an astonishing array of culturally specific techniques, and will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished practicing teachers who are equally purposed in preserving heritage techniques.
Bundle Discount
When four World Embroidery classes are added to your cart, a 25% off code will be automatically applied. All classes must be in a single order to qualify for the discount.
Scholarships
We have one scholarship seat available for this workshop. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out this scholarship application form.
Our Teacher
Sarah Pedlow, the founder of ThreadWritten, is an artist working with embroidery and cultural preservation through workshops, textile travel tours, and fine art. ThreadWritten supports women artisans, traditional and contemporary textile practices, and the preservation of heritage through research, education, and the cultivation of a global community of makers. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sarah moved to Amsterdam, NL, in 2019, and recently to Rotterdam where she now lives and works. She has taught and lectured at the Fashion Institute of Technology, The Textile Arts Council at the de Young Museum, San Francisco School of Needlework and Design, TATTER (Brooklyn, NY), WildCraft Studio School (Portland, OR), The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, The John C. Campbell Folk School, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, Crafts Council Nederland, and Selvedge. She holds an MFA in Visual Arts from Rutgers University (US) and her work has been featured in Uppercase, Veranda, House & Garden UK, Piecework, and Selvedge magazines. Find her artwork at sarahpedlow.com.