Coral stitch, German knot stitch, knotted stitch, beaded stitch

Coral stitch is also known as coral knot, German knot stitch, knotted stitch, beaded stitch, and snail trail. It is also incorrectly known as scroll stitch.

Coral stitch is an old embroidery stitch which creates a line that looks like a row of knots and is used for outlines and follows a curved detail well. Coral stitch is frequently found in seventeenth and eighteenth century English crewel work. It is also a very useful stitch for twiggy bits in a floral design. It can also be used to create a knotted filling with the knots form a secondary pattern across the filling.

Coral stitch is worked from right to left. To work bring the thread up from the back of the fabric and hold it loosely on the surface of the fabric with your thumb. Insert the needle at a right angle, above the line to be worked and bring it out just below the line to be worked. Pull the needle through the fabric and over the thread to from a knot.

Coral stitch can be varied by altering the angle of the needle as it passes through the fabric, and by altering the spacing of the knots along the row. The effect created is also altered by the weight and twist of the thread used.