Almost everyone has a zigzag stitch on their sewing machine. With this stitch, you can create the heirloom look of drawn thread work. You can try two methods: One uses a zigzag with the machine feed dogs, or feed teeth, down and the other creates the look with the feed dogs up.

The zigzag is just one of many machine stitches you can use to achieve this subtle decorative touch. Learn how to use five other machine stitches to create slightly different drawn thread looks in “Drawn Thread Work by Machine,” Threads #227, Fall 2024.

Preparation for Either Zigzag Stitch Method

You’ll start by removing some threads from the fabric. Note: The initial threads are manually “drawn” from the fabric, and the remaining threads in the area from which the threads were drawn are then “pulled” together with machine stitching.

1. Draw out threads from your fabric, preferably linen, until there’s a 1/2-inch open area. To draw threads: Start by pulling a single thread at the fabric’s raw edge, then pull out threads on one or both sides of the first drawn thread. For more details on drawing threads, see the instructions in “Drawn Thread Work by Machine.”

2. Starch and press the drawn thread area.

3. Select thread that matches the drawn thread area. The color of thread should match the color of the remaining threads after the threads are drawn. The gray linen shown is made from two different colors of thread. When drawing the warp threads, the remaining threads are dark gray, as shown above. When drawing the weft threads, the remaining threads are white, as shown below. Coordinate the thread with the drawn thread area.…