Outline stitch is exactly what it says it is, a stitch used to create a neat outline for a solid filled area of embroidery.

When learning how to outline stitch you will discover that you can use a thread that is a contrasting color to the solid area, so that it stands out, or use the same color just to neaten off the area. You may vary the thickness of the thread to have the outline stand out, or use the same guage to have the outline blend in.

Outline stitch is a very simple embroidery technique used to create a neat outline around a solid area of color. Experiment with different colors and various thicknesses of thread to achieve different results, a finer same color thread will just neaten, where a thicker contrasting color thread will creating an interesting and obvious solid outline.

Select a needle that is suitable for the thickness of yarn you have selected and be sure that the needle is specifically designed for embroidery to ease threading.

Cut off approximately 20 inches of your chosen thread and thread this through the needle.

Now push the needle up through your work to the front, leaving about 1 inch at the back, this will be tied into the following stitches at the back, avoiding unsightly knots and ensuring a secure finish.

Now you will push the needle back into the fabric at the point that determines the length of the stitch.

Without pulling through, point the needle back towards the beginning of the line and keeping the thread ABOVE the needle, push the tip of your needle through the fabric about a third of the way down the length of the first stitch. Pull through.

Continue in this back and forth manner until you have created the entire required line, being sure to "catch" the tail thread at the back to secure the start of the yarn.

Finish off by having the needle and thread at the back of the work and pushing them through five or six stitches. Snip with your scissors.