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December 21, 2021 by Alejandra Castellanos Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

The Master Vocabulary Guide to Embroidery and Cross-Stitch in Spanish

Crafters and creatives, this post about embroidery and cross-stitch in Spanish is what you’ve been waiting for! 

Learn how to explain embroidery and cross-stitch in Spanish easily and clearly and become your friends’ most creative Spanish speaker!

Essential Embroidery Terms

If you’re a creative mind, use these terms about embroidery and cross-stitch in Spanish to begin a conversation about this beautiful art!

EnglishSpanish
craftslas manualidades
designel diseño
embroideryel bordado
french knotel nudo frances
hand embroideryel bordado a mano
machine embroideryel bordado a máquina
stabilizersel estabilizador
stitcheslas puntadas
stitch lengthel largo de la puntada
threadel hilo

Example Sentences in Spanish

Me encanta hacer manualidades, por eso hago bordados a mano.
I love making crafts, that’s why I hand embroider.

Puedo enseñarte a hacer muchas puntadas.
I can teach you to make a lot of stitches!

Compré muchos colores de hilo. ¡Ya quiero usarlos!
I bought lots of thread colors. I can’t wait to use them!

cross stitch in Spanish

Embroidery Tools

EnglishSpanish
embroidery flossla seda de bordado
embroidery hoopel bastidor
embroidery needleslas agujas de bordado
fabricla tela
scissorslas tijeras
water soluble markerel marcador soluble

Example Sentences in Spanish

Compré un nuevo bastidor porque quebré el anterior.
I bought a new embroidery hoop because I broke the previous one.

¿Cuál es tu tela de bordado favorita?
What’s your favorite embroidery fabric?

Asegúrate de comprar un marcador soluble; si no, echarás a perder tu tela.
Be sure to buy a water soluble marker or else you’ll spoil your fabric. 

embroidery in Spanish
Embroidery hoop art | © alamodestuff/Flickr

More Embroidery Fabrics

EnglishSpanish
aida clothla tela aida
canvasla lona
evenweave fabricla tela tejida
hardanger fabricla tela hardanger
linenel lino
satinel satinado
silkla seda

Example Sentences in Spanish

Prefiero usar lona que tela tejida; es más resistente.
I prefer to use canvas over evenweave fabric; it’s more resistant. 

Intenté bordar en seda pero fue muy difícil.
I tried to embroider on silk but it was too hard. 

Are you a true crafter? Check out: A Spanish Guide to Holiday Cookies

Types of Embroidery

There are lots of techniques that can entertain you for years to come! But here are some of them for you to teach your Spanish-speaking friends how to embroider and cross-stitch in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
backstitchla puntada trasera
buttonhole or blanket stitchel punto festón
chain stitchla cadena
cross stitchel punto de cruz
running stitchla puntada hilván
satin stitchel punto satin

Example Sentences in Spanish

Déjame enseñarte cómo hacer la cadena.
Let me teach you how to do the chain stitch.

Para iniciar, debes aprender a hacer la puntada hilván.
To begin, you have to learn how to do the running stitch.

Cross Stitch in Spanish

Cross stitch, el punto de cruz in Spanish is the most common method to embroidery beautiful designs using templates as a guideline to create the image you want!

cross stitch in Spanish
PB Cross stitch 4 | © Kristin/Flickr

Terms To Explain

Here are some terms to explain the easy steps for cross-stitch in Spanish!

To Use Templates – Usar plantillas

Usa todas estas plantillas; ¡harás diseños increíbles!
Use all these templates; you’ll make amazing designs!

To Come Up – Pasar la aguja de atrás hacia adelante

Para iniciar, pasa la aguja de atrás hacia adelante sin jalar el hilo.
To start, come up without pulling the thread.

To Take (the Needle) Down Diagonally – Introducir la aguja en dirección diagonal

Luego, introduce la aguja en dirección diagonal.
Then, take the needle down diagonally.

To Take (the Needle) Up Through the Inferior Hole – Pasar la aguja en el agujero inferior de atrás hacia adelante

Para formar la cruz, pasa la aguja en el agujero inferior, de atrás hacia adelante.
To make the cross, take the needle up through the inferior hole.

Chain Stitch in Spanish

I learned this stitch when I was a kid! It’s one of the easiest stitches and it looks really nice as a decoration for your crafts! Let’s take a look at how to talk about it in Spanish. 

EnglishSpanish
around the needlealrededor de la aguja
decorative stitchla puntada decorativa
short stitcheslas puntadas cortas
to decoratedecorar
to give (texture)dar textura

Terms To Explain Chain Stitch

To Pull the Thread Around the Needle – Pasar el hilo alrededor de la aguja

Para formar la cadena, pasa el hilo alrededor de la aguja.
To make the chain stitch, pull the thread around the needle.

To Pull the Thread – Jalar el hilo

Jala el hilo en su totalidad.
Pull the thread completely.

To Make a Small Stitch – Hacer una puntada pequeña

Recuerda hacer una puntada pequeña para que se vea bien.
Remember to make a small stitch so it looks good.

A Short Distance Away in the Direction You’re Going – A una corta distancia hacia la dirección a la que te diriges

Pasa la aguja a una corta distancia hacia la dirección a la que te diriges. 
Come back up a short distance away in the direction you’re going.

Here are some other specific instructions!

  • To come back up through the middle of the stitch – Pasar la aguja hacia adelante por el medio de la puntada
  • To take it back down through the fabric – Pasar la aguja hacia abajo a través de la tela

Buttonhole or Blanket Stitch

The blanket stitch helps to avoid the fabric from fraying, check out these terms to explain it clearly!

stitching
Needle and Thread (Buttonhole) | © meg_nicol/Flickr

Terms To Explain

Make Two Parallel Lines – Hacer dos líneas paralelas

Para guiar tu bordado, haz dos líneas paralelas.
To guide your embroidery, make two parallel lines. 

To Start in the Superior Line – Empezar en la línea superior

Empieza pasando la aguja por la línea superior.
Start by coming up through the superior line. 

To Move to the Inferior Line – Bajar a la línea inferior

El siguiente paso es bajar a la línea inferior.
The next step is to move to the inferior line. 

To Take (the Needle) Down on the Superior Line – Pasar la aguja hacia atrás en la línea superior

Ahora, debes pasar la aguja hacia atrás en la línea superior.
Now, you have to take the needle down on the superior line.

To Fray – Deshilachar

Es importante que aprendas esta puntada para que tu tela no se deshilache.
It’s important that you learn this stitch so your fabric won’t fray.

Running Stitch

This stitch is excellent for framing your works of art in fabric after you’ve made your cross-stitch patterns. Here’s how to talk about it in Spanish.

EnglishSpanish
framingel enmarcado
long stitcheslas puntadas largas
sewingla costura
to leave a spacedejar espacio
up-and-down methodel método arriba-abajo
cross stitch in Spanish
Running Stitch Cushion | © Constanza/Flickr

Terms To Explain

Regular Sewing – Costura convencional

La puntada hilván se realiza como la costura convencional.
The running stitch is made like regular sewing. 

To Insert the Needle to Make a Stitch – Insertar la aguja para hacer una puntada

Esta puntada se inicia insertando la aguja desde abajo y luego desde arriba.
Start this stitch by inserting the needle from below and then from above.

To Move the Needle Forward in the Fabric – Pasar la aguja hacia adelante de la tela

Con cuidado, debes pasar la aguja hacia adelante de la tela.
Carefully, you have to move the needle forward in the fabric.

To Move (the Needle) Forward Leaving a Space – Pasar hacia adelante dejando un espacio

El paso más importante es pasar la aguja hacia adelante dejando un espacio.
The most important step is moving the needle forward leaving a space.

Satin Stitch

The satin stitch makes your embroidery projects look more full and with a splash of color! The satin stitch fits in the group of filler stitches (las puntadas de relleno.)

Terms To Explain

Explain how your crafts look amazing using these terms!

To Add Color – Agregar color

Aprender a usar la puntada de satín le agrega color a tu bordado. 
Learning to use the satin stitch adds color to your embroidery.

To Fill in (Letters and Shapes) – Llenar letras y figuras

Llena las letras y figuras con la puntada de satín; es más fácil.
Fill in letters and shapes with the satin stitch; it’s easier.

Go Back and Forth Across the Shape Until It’s Filled – Ir de atrás hacia adelante hasta llenar la figura

La técnica consiste en ir de atrás hacia adelante hasta llenar la figura.
The technique consists in going back and forth across the shape until it’s filled. 

Outline the Shape and Then Fill It In – Hacer la orilla de la figura y luego llenarla

Si eres principiante, haz la orilla de la figura y luego rellénala.
If you’re a beginner, outline the shape and then fill it in.

emboridery

Back Stitch – Puntada trasera

EnglishSpanish
drawingsdibujos
easy to readfácil de leer
outlinesorillas
textel texto
uniformuniforme 

Example Sentences

La puntada trasera es perfecta para dibujos y texto.
The back stitch is perfect for drawings and text.

Utiliza el punto atrás; es más fácil de leer.
Use the backstitch; it’s easier to read.

El punto atrás es una puntada muy uniforme.
The backstitch is a very uniform stitch.

Terms To Explain

To Come Up from Where the Previous Stitch Started – Sacar la aguja adelante de donde inicia la puntada anterior

Lo importante en esta puntada es sacar la aguja adelante de donde inicia la puntada anterior. 
The important part of this stitch is coming up from where the previous stitch started. 

To Come Back and Come Up Where the Next Stitch Starts – Volver y sacar la aguja donde debe iniciar la siguiente

Lo siguiente es volver y sacar la aguja donde debe iniciar la siguiente puntada.
The next part is to come back and come up where the next stitch starts.

Embroidered Objects

Show off your embroidery skills by planning your next project! Use these words to talk about embroidered and cross-stitched objects in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
capslas gorras
cardiganslos cárdigans
coatslos abrigos
dresseslos vestidos
hatslos sombreros
jacketslas chaquetas
shirtslas camisas
shoeslos zapatos

Example Sentences in Spanish

Mira, le hice un bordado a mano a mi chaqueta.
Look, I hand-embroidered my jacket.

Me gusta hacer bordados en camisas. ¿Quieres que lo haga en la tuya?
I like to embroider shirts. Do you want me to do it for yours?

Mis zapatos eran blancos, así que les hice un bordado.
My shoes were white so I embroidered them.

cross stitch in Spanish
Paño de bordado | © José Rosael/Hélio Nobre/Museu Paulista da USP/Wikimedia Commons

See also: 10 Creative Ways to Practice Your Spanish Writing Skills

Embroidery and Cross-Stitch Verbs in Spanish

Embroidery is a fine and delicate art! That’s why I want you to express yourself more clearly with these verbs and phrases about embroidery and cross-stitch in Spanish!

To Cut (Fabric) – Cortar la tela

Asegúrate de cortar suficiente tela para un bordado grande.
Be sure to cut enough fabric for a big embroidery. 

To Loosen the Screw (of the Hoop) – Aflojar el tornillo del aro

Para empezar, debes aflojar el tornillo del aro.
To begin, you have to loosen the screw of the hoop.

To Separate (the Hoops) – Separar los aros

Luego, separa los aros para colocar la tela.
Then, separate the hoops to place the fabric.

To Lay (the Fabric) – Colocar la tela

Coloca la tela correctamente, para que esté estirada.
Lay the fabric appropriately, so it is straightened out.

To Push (the Top Hoop) Down – Empujar el aro superior hacia abajo

Fija la tela empujando el aro superior hacia abajo.
Secure the fabric by pushing the top hoop down.

To Tighten the Screw (of the Hoop) – Apretar el tornillo del aro

Aprieta el tornillo del aro, pero no demasiado para no arruinarlo.
Tighten the screw of the hoop, but not too much so you don’t ruin it. 

To Thread (the Needle) – Enhebrar la aguja

¿Me ayudas a enhebrar la aguja? 
Can you help me thread the needle?

To Pull the Thread (Through the Needle) – Pasar el hilo a través de la aguja

Pasa el hilo a través de la aguja despacio.
Slowly, pull the thread through the needle.

cross stitch in Spanish

To Bring the Needle (to the Front) – Pasar la aguja hacia adelante

Pasa la aguja hacia adelante y jala el hilo.
Bring the needle to the front and pull the thread.

To Bring the Needle (to the Back) – Pasar la aguja hacia atrás

Pasa la aguja hacia atrás para completar la puntada.
Bring the needle to the back to complete the stitch.

To Separate Strands – Separar los hilos

Antes de iniciar, separa los hilos para hacerlos más delgados.
Before you start, separate the strands to make them thinner.

To Make a Knot – Hacer un nudo 

¡No olvides hacer un nudo en el hilo! Sino, perderás todo tu trabajo.
Don’t forget to make a knot to the thread! Or else you’ll lose all your work. 

To Draw (a Pattern) – Dibujar un patrón

Si eres principiante, dibuja un patrón para guiar tus puntadas.
If you’re a beginner, draw a pattern to guide your stitches. 

Expand Your Social Circle with Spanish

What do you mean “expand my social circle” with Spanish? Let me explain! Year by year, the amount of Spanish speakers increases in the United States and all over the world. This diverse language not only has several variations all over Latin America but it is also becoming part of many United States households and workplaces!

Whether people grew up bilingual at home or they are learning this wonderful language, there are more U.S. citizens around you that speak this language. If you learn it too, you can meet more people to practice your speaking skills with and even share other things in common! 

HSA is the place for you to become a fearless bilingual individual and begin the amazing journey of making new friends. Our 1-on-1 classes with native Spanish-speaking teachers are the perfect resource for you to become acquainted with the language and loosen up as a speaker! 

Sign up for a free class today and discover everything we can do for you to help you achieve new goals.

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Sign up for your FREE TRIAL CLASS today!

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Alejandra Castellanos
Alejandra Castellanos
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
A native Spanish speaker and college student born in Guatemala, I have a passion for writing in English and sharing valuable language information with Spanish learners. If my readers can enjoy the lessons and information I share, I’ll consider my work done!
Alejandra Castellanos
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