Duplicate Stitch - Swiss Darning

Duplicate stitch—also known as Swiss darning—is a clever and elegant embroidery technique that lets you draw directly on knitted fabric using yarn. It’s one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to add color, repair, or personalize your knits without changing the structure of the fabric itself. Whether you want to decorate a sweater with small motifs, reinforce worn spots, or “paint” over existing stitches to create intricate colorwork, this class will show you how.

In this workshop, we’ll start with the basics: how to follow the path of the knitted stitches, how to work even and tidy shapes, and how to manage yarn tension so your embroidery blends seamlessly with the original fabric. From there, we’ll move to more creative applications—like combining duplicate stitch with other techniques, working with multiple colors, and planning small designs that enhance or transform your knitted piece. You’ll also learn how to fix common issues such as loose stitches, uneven outlines, or gaps, and how to use duplicate stitch for visible mending or for adding designs to finished garments.

By the end of the class, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use Swiss darning both as a decorative and practical tool, along with a small sample that showcases your work and plenty of ideas for your next project.