I like to experiment with embroidery stitches on items I make for my children and grandchildren. Lately, I've been using an open buttonhole stitch on doll clothes -- along the hems of the skirt and edges of the sleeves.

Method:

I proceed as if I am making a buttonhole stitch along the folded edge.

But, I do not pull the thread tight; instead I leave about 1/4 inch of loop, and then take one small plain overlapping stitch at the base of the buttonhole stitch to anchor the loop, and I pull that tight.

I keep the open buttonhole stitches spaced about 1/4 inch apart.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words of description I am including a photo here of a doll dress decorated in this stitch.

Mostly I use 6-strand embroidery floss in either a contrasting color to the material or closely matching a color in the material. I like the brighter floss for the doll clothes.

I also use this open buttonhole stitch to edge place mats, table runners, collars on blouses, and the lower edges of sleeves on short sleeve blouses!

article and photo credit © Susan Kramer, guest writer