Fly Stitch Embroidery: How to Work V and Y Stitches for Leaves and Branches
Fly stitch is an open V-shaped loop held down at its point by a small vertical stitch. It is also called Y stitch, because a long tie-down stitch turns the V into a Y, and it is sometimes listed as open loop stitch. One fly stitch can be a bird in the sky or the tip of a twig. Stacked one under another, fly stitches make leaves, fern fronds, pine branches and grass. The shape depends on three choices: how wide the arms are, how deep the V is and how long the tie-down stitch is.
How to do fly stitch, in short: bring the needle up at the top left, go down at the top right and come up in the middle below, with the thread under the needle tip. Pull to form a V, then hold the V with a short or long anchoring stitch straight down.
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Used for | Branches, leaves, fern fronds, pine needles, grass, birds in the distance |
| Thread | 1–3 strands of stranded cotton |
| Needle | Embroidery (crewel) needle |
| Tie-down stitch | 1–2 mm for a V; 4 mm or more for a Y |
What You Need
- Fabric in a hoop. The V keeps its shape only if the fabric does not move as you pull.
- A centre line for leaves and branches. Draw the stem and, if you want a regular shape, the outline of the leaf. Each fly stitch then sits inside the outline with its point on the line.
- A fine thread for delicate work. One or two strands give light, feathery branches; three strands give a bolder leaf.
How to Work Fly Stitch
- Bring the needle up at the top left of the V (A). Pull the thread through.
- Take the needle down at the top right (B), level with A, and bring the tip up at the point of the V (C), centred between A and B and lower down. Do not pull it through yet.
- Loop the thread under the needle tip.
- Pull the needle through until the thread forms a V with its point at C. Stop while both arms are still straight and the V has not collapsed.
- Tie the point down by taking the needle down directly below C. A short stitch gives a V; a long one gives a Y.
Point C decides the shape. Close to the line A–B, it gives a wide, shallow V; far below it, a narrow, deep one.
Stacking Fly Stitches into Leaves and Branches
- Leaf. Start with a straight stitch at the leaf tip. Work fly stitches down the centre line, bringing each new pair of arms up at the leaf outline and placing each point just below the previous one, so the tie-down stitches join into a central vein.
- Fern frond or pine branch. Same idea, but leave a gap between stitches and use longer tie-downs, so the stem shows between the pairs of arms.
- Grass and twigs. Single fly stitches with long tails, at slightly different angles and heights.
- Borders. Fly stitches side by side in a row, points touching, or alternating up and down.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The V closes into a single line | The thread was pulled too tight before tying down | Stop pulling while the arms are still apart; hold the V in shape with a finger while you make the tie-down stitch. |
| The V is lopsided | Point C is not centred between A and B | Mark the centre line and bring the needle up exactly on it. |
| The tie-down stitch slants | It was taken at an angle instead of straight down from the point | Go down directly below C, following the centre line. |
| Gaps along the vein of a leaf | Each new point is too far from the last tie-down | Bring the next point up right where the previous tie-down ended, or slightly overlapping it. |
| Leaf looks ragged at the edges | Arm lengths vary from stitch to stitch | Draw the leaf outline and start every arm on it. |
| Arms pucker the fabric | Long arms pulled tight on loose fabric | Keep the fabric drum-tight and use shorter arms on lightweight cotton. |
Fly Stitch Variations
- Closed fly stitch. V shapes worked so close together down a centre line that they touch, filling a leaf shape solidly, much like fishbone stitch.
- Long-tailed fly stitch. A long anchoring stitch turns each V into a Y, useful for grass, twigs and small birds’ feet.
- Stacked fly stitch. V shapes worked one below another along a line make a fern-like branch or a pine sprig.
- Fly stitch as a border. A row of V shapes side by side, with short anchors, makes a simple decorative edge.
Where to Use Fly Stitch
- Leaves. Closely stacked fly stitches fill a leaf with a clear central vein.
- Ferns, pine branches and Christmas trees. Spaced fly stitches with long tails along a stem.
- Calyx under a flower bud. One wide fly stitch cradles a bud, for example around a lazy daisy or French knot.
- Grass and meadows. Scattered single stitches with tails of different lengths.
- Birds in the distance. A small, shallow V on its own, without a tail.
Fly Stitch vs Feather Stitch vs Fishbone Stitch
- Feather stitch: the same open loop, but each loop is held by the next one, alternately left and right, instead of by a tie-down stitch. It makes a branching zigzag line.
- Fishbone stitch: slanted stitches crossing at the centre line. It fills a leaf solidly, while fly stitch leaves the fabric showing between the arms.
- Fern stitch: three separate straight stitches from one point. Similar look, but with a straight middle stitch in each group instead of a loop.
For an overview of all the basic stitches, see our complete guide to hand embroidery stitches.
Patterns to Practise Your Stitches On
Once the basic stitches feel comfortable, try them on a complete design. These woodland patterns have plenty of grass, leaves and branches.
New to Embroidery? Start with a Free Pattern
All of our free embroidery patterns in one place:
Fly Stitch FAQ
What is the difference between fly stitch and Y stitch?
They are the same stitch. With a short tie-down it looks like a V; with a long tie-down it looks like a Y, which is where the second name comes from.
How do I make a leaf with fly stitch?
Make a straight stitch at the tip, then work fly stitches down the centre line, each one just below the last, with the arms starting on the leaf outline.
Which direction do you work fly stitch?
Usually from top to bottom, with the arms above the point. Turn the hoop so that each stitch is worked in this position, whatever direction the branch goes in.
