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embroidery

How to Make the Eyelet Wheel Stitch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Build an eyelet wheel from repeated outer edge stitches and centerward spokes, with simple guidance on materials, spoke count, and uses.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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The eyelet wheel stitch is a circular embroidery stitch built from repeated edge stitches and spokes that run toward the center. Mark a circle, divide it into sections, then alternate an outer edge stitch with a centerward spoke as you work around the motif. More spokes tend to make the wheel look smoother; fewer give it a more angular shape.

How the eyelet wheel stitch is built

The stitch combines radial spokes with stitches that join the circle’s outer edge. Worked together, they form a wheel that can fill a marked circle or leave a small opening in the center. The exact sequence and diagram labels vary between tutorials, so the directions below use a consistent approach: work each outer edge section, then its spoke, moving around the circle.

Materials to gather

  • Fabric suitable for hand embroidery
  • Embroidery thread or pearl cotton
  • A hand-sewing or embroidery needle suited to the thread and fabric
  • An embroidery hoop, if you prefer to keep the fabric taut; a 15 cm (6 inch) hoop is one beginner tutorial’s suggested option, not a requirement
  • A removable fabric marker or another way to mark the circle and its center

There is no universal strand count for this stitch. Use fewer strands for a finer design and adjust the thread weight and color to suit the fabric and motif.

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How to embroider an eyelet wheel

  1. Mark the circle. Draw or lightly mark the circle and identify its center. Divide the circumference into evenly spaced sections for the spokes. Planning the divisions helps keep the wheel balanced.
  2. Bring the needle up at an outer point. Choose a marked point on the circle and bring the needle to the front of the fabric.
  3. Make an edge stitch. Take the needle down at the next point along the circumference to form a short stitch around the outer edge.
  4. Form a spoke. Bring the needle back up at the starting point, then take it down near the center to make a spoke directed inward.
  5. Continue around the circle. Move to the next section and repeat the outer edge stitch followed by its centerward spoke. Keep the sequence consistent as you work around the wheel.
  6. Close and secure the motif. Work the final edge section and last spoke, then secure the thread on the back of the fabric.

Choose the spoke count for the effect

Use the number of spokes that suits the size and style of the motif; there is no fixed count. Practical Embroidery notes that more spokes tend to create a smoother circle, while fewer produce a more angular wheel. The source does not set numeric cutoffs, so treat this as a visual choice rather than a prescribed count.

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Where to use the stitch

The eyelet wheel works as a circular filler or a decorative motif in botanical embroidery, circle appliqué, and crazy quilting. Tutorials also show it for mending, but it is not automatically suitable for every fabric tear or repair: consider the fabric’s condition and whether the embroidered area will provide the support the repair needs.

In an American Patchwork & Quilting tutorial, presenter Linda describes it this way: “The eyelet wheel stitch is a great filler stitch to put on top of circles or even to make an eyelet so you have a little opening in the center.”

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Keep the wheel even

  • Mark the center and divide the circumference before stitching, especially if you want evenly spaced spokes.
  • Use a consistent distance between the edge and center for each spoke.
  • Adjust spoke count, thread weight, and color to change the look without treating one combination as the only correct version.

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