Ray Stitch (Spoke Stitch) Embroidery: How to Stitch Radiating Lines
Ray stitch, also called spoke stitch, is a group of straight stitches that radiate from one point, like the spokes of a wheel or the rays of the sun. The stitches can meet at the centre, or start a little way out and leave a small open circle. Ray stitch is used for sun rays, flower centres, dandelion clocks, sparkles and the spokes that a woven rose is built on. Each stitch is a simple straight stitch; what makes the group look good is even spacing and a clean centre.
How to do ray (spoke) stitch, in short: work straight stitches that all go into the same centre point from the edge of a circle or half circle, spacing them evenly like the spokes of a wheel.
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Used for | Suns, flower centres, dandelions, sparkles, spokes for woven roses |
| Thread | 1–2 strands of stranded cotton for fine rays; 3 for bold ones |
| Needle | Embroidery (crewel) needle |
| Number of spokes | 5–16 depending on size; an odd number (usually 5) for a woven rose |
What You Need
- Fabric in a hoop, drum-tight. Many stitches pulling towards one point gather slack fabric into a pucker.
- A marked centre and outer circle. Draw around a coin or button for the outer ends. Mark the main positions (top, bottom, left, right) before you start.
- A sharp embroidery needle. It goes exactly into the centre point without pushing earlier stitches aside.
- Stranded cotton, separated. Fewer strands keep a crowded centre flat.
How to Work Ray (Spoke) Stitch
- Mark the centre and the outer circle. If the centre will stay open, mark a small inner circle too.
- Stitch the four main spokes first. Bring the needle up on the outer circle at the top and go down at the centre (or on the inner circle). Repeat at the bottom, left and right.
- Fill the gaps by halving them. Place the next spoke in the middle of each gap, then halve again if you need more. Going round one by one usually leaves the last gap too wide or too narrow.
- Always go down at the centre. A needle going down pushes existing threads aside; a needle coming up through a crowded hole splits them and can pull earlier spokes out of place.
- With many spokes, stop just short of the exact centre. Ending each stitch a fabric thread away gives a tiny neat ring instead of one stretched hole. You can also leave an open centre and fill it with a French knot or a few satin stitches.
- Travel on the back around the outside, not across the centre, so carried threads don’t show through.
Spacing and Number of Spokes
| Look | Spokes | Strands | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small flower centre or sparkle (5–8 mm) | 6–8 | 1–2 | Spokes meet at the centre |
| Sun | 8–16 | 2 | Rays start at the edge of a satin stitch circle; alternate long and short |
| Dandelion clock | 12–20 | 1 | Long, fine rays with an open centre |
| Base for a woven rose | 5 (or 7) | 2 | An odd number lets the weaving alternate over and under |
For a plain ray, any number of spokes works, and even numbers look more symmetrical. When the rays start from a circle rather than a point, aim each one at the centre of the circle so they still read as radiating from one point.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| A large hole in the centre | Every stitch went into the exact same hole and stretched the weave | Go down, not up, at the centre and stop a fabric thread short of it. Or leave an open centre and fill it with a French knot. |
| Uneven spacing, one gap too wide | Spokes were worked round in order | Stitch the four main spokes first, then halve each gap. |
| Spokes look off-centre | Outer ends not on one circle or not aimed at the centre | Mark the circle and the centre and check each spoke’s angle before pulling it tight. |
| The fabric puckers towards the middle | Stitches pulled too tight, all towards one point | Pull only until each spoke lies flat, and keep the fabric drum-tight. |
| Threads show through on light fabric | The thread was carried across the centre on the back | Move between spokes around the outer edge on the back. |
| The centre is a thick blob | Too many strands or spokes for the size | Use fewer strands, fewer spokes, or an open centre. |
Where to Use Ray Stitch
- Suns. Rays around a satin stitch circle, alternating long and short.
- Simple flowers. Six to eight spokes with a French knot in the middle read as a small flower.
- Dandelion clocks and seed heads. Fine single-strand rays with an open centre.
- Sparkles and light. Small bursts of rays for lamps, candles and fireworks.
- Woven roses. Five spokes are the base that the thread is woven around.
Ray Stitch vs Star Stitch vs Lazy Daisy
- Star stitch: a few straight stitches that cross or meet at one point to make a compact, symmetrical star. Ray stitch can have many spokes, an open centre and rays of different lengths.
- Straight stitch: the single stitch that ray stitch is made of. Everything about length and tension applies here too.
- Lazy daisy: loops instead of straight lines, arranged around a centre. Use it when the petals need to be rounded.
- Woven rose: starts as a ray of five spokes, then the thread is woven around them.
For an overview of all the basic stitches, see our complete guide to hand embroidery stitches.
Patterns to Practise Your Stitches On
These beginner-friendly patterns are a good place to practise basic stitches.
New to Embroidery? Start with a Free Pattern
All of our free embroidery patterns in one place:
Ray Stitch FAQ
Is ray stitch the same as spoke stitch?
Yes, they are two names for the same stitch: straight stitches radiating from one point. “Spoke stitch” is often used when the stitches are the base for a woven rose or wheel.
How do I stop a hole forming in the centre?
Always go down at the centre rather than up, and stop each stitch a fabric thread short of the exact point. With many spokes, leave an open centre and fill it with a French knot.
How many spokes do I need for a woven rose?
An odd number, usually five, so the weaving thread alternates over and under on every round.
Can the rays start from a circle instead of a point?
Yes. For a sun, start the rays at the edge of a stitched circle and aim each one at its centre.
