Difficulty:
| This stitch is best for: Delicate and intricate designs
The Ribbed Spider Web Stitch is a decorative embroidery stitch that can be used to create a variety of designs. This stitch is often used to create floral patterns, as well as spider webs and other delicate designs. The main difference between the Ribbed Spider Web Stitch and Woven Wheel is that the resulting design features a raised ribbing, which creates additional texture to your design. This stitch takes a while to get used to, but once you do, there’s a lot of intricate designs you can do with it!
How to do the Ribbed Spider Web Stitch
- Prepare your design: You can draw a small circle lightly in pencil to mark the center of your wheel, and a larger circle around it. You can also create spokes (usually 5) radiating from the center of the circle to create your ribs. You can also use a semicircle or fan pattern as well.
- Start the stitch: Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric at the center point where you want your web’s base to be.
- Stitch your spokes: Make a straight stitch along a spoke following the guide line you made ending at the outer edge of your wheel. Bring your needle up from the back of the fabric at the center point of the wheel and repeat the straight stitch for all the spokes in your wheel.
- Weaving the thread: Once you’re done with your spokes, bring your needle up from the bottom of the fabric at the base of one of the spokes. Weave your needle under the spoke and go around the spoke to wrap the thread around the spoke. Proceed to the next rib using the same process, weaving under the spoke and wrap the needle around the spoke. Be careful not to catch any of the threads with your needle, and don’t pull too hard.
- Stitch backward: If you have a semicircle or fan design and have reached the other end of the spokes, work backwards to the first spoke by adding an extra wrap on the final rib. For a circular design you can keep going around and around to fill up your rows. Remember to press the thread close together towards the starting point so the fabric underneath is no longer visible.
- Repeat: Continue stitching following steps 4-5 until your spokes have completely been wrapped.
- End the stitch: To finish the stitch, take your needle down through the fabric, away from the last loop you created, and tie a knot on the back of the fabric to secure the thread.
Tips
- Use a hoop to keep your fabric taut while you work.
- Do not pull the thread too tight when wrapping the spokes, to avoid puckering.
- Always wrap starting from the underside of the spoke instead of over. This will create a neat and consistent design.
- When wrapping your thread around the spoke, you can lead the eye of the needle under each spoke instead of the tip to avoid catching thread or poking yourself.