Running Stitch is the most basic hand embroidery stitch. It is simply an “up and down” stitch in the fabric. Although it may seem like such a basic hand embroidery stitch that it could be considered dull, on the contrary, running stitch can be used quite effectively in all levels of hand embroidery.
You can vary the look of the running stitch by changing the length of the stitches and the length of the distance between the stitches. The key to an attractive running stitch is keeping both the stitch length and the interval length consistent across the line of stitching.
In addition to using the running stitch “as is,” the stitch can also be used as a base for other composite stitches. Whipped and laced running stitch, for examples, are effective embellishments on hand embroidery projects.
Running stitch is used for an embroidery technique called “pattern darning,” where lines of running stitch are worked to form a fill pattern on linen or canvas.
By varying the direction of the running stitches and the spaces between them, all kinds of patterns can develop!
Pattern darning is done easily on even-weave linen or on needlepoint canvas, but it can also be worked on plain weave fabrics (though it’s much more difficult to keep the spacing and stitch length even!).
With a little imagination, you can work up all kinds of fill patterns with running stitch. The pattern in the photo above would work great for the roof of an embroidered house, or the sides of an embroidered basket.
So, though running stitch is the most basic stitch, you can see that it has lots of potential!
Here’s the video:
If you’d like to learn more embroidery stitches, you can find plenty of how-to videos for hand embroidery here on Needle ‘n Thread.
Ha ha! This is awesome…just the way I dreamed it would be. Thank you so much!!!
what a fabulous idea–and so well done!
I’m glad you like it – I hope others find it helpful and that it encourages people to give embroidery a try!
Pat Hall in Ohio WOW!!! I am in awe of this and will be checking them often I am going to make a redwork quilt by Crabapplehillstudio and it has lots of redwork in it. thank you thank you!! Pat
What a wonderful site! I just started to do redwork and this is most helpful. Thank you !!!
your videos sound like a grand idea, but do you know why I get only a picture of a bland monitor?
Help !
My mother would absolutely love these videos, however we have dial up which makes viewing them difficult. Do you have them on DVD that we could purchase? Thanks. ho_str@yahoo.com
This video library is a brilliant idea! I’m linking to it from my “How-To” links page.
Wow, am I glad I came across these videos. THANKS!!!! They are great!
Thank you so much!!! It is so much easier to see someone do it than to just read about it! El Dorado Hill, CA
Thanks for this wonderful website But unfortunately I am not able to see the video since I don’t get anything on the screem on clicking the control. Which software is needed for this to be viewed? Please help!!
Hi,
You might want to check out the Google Video Support page that addresses this issue. It’s probably a matter of not having Adobe Flash installed or java enabled. They’ll take you through it step by step.
I hope it works for you!
MC
Thank you so much for this! Clear instructions, calmly spoken, easy to see what you are doing. . .you just took the stress of re-learning away (it’s been 18 years!). Happy holidays!!!
Thank you for posting these videos. I was taught these stitches in my Home economics classes in high school & since have forgotten them. I recently decided to pick the art back up again for fun & to decorate some small items for my wedding & found that I needed some help re-learning the stitches. Your videos are simple & helpful. Almost like being back in my classes and learning again. Thank you so much.
I’m glad you like them and that they came in handy!!
This is absolutely wonderful! Well done, very well done!
I was wondering what type of fabric do you use. I just starting to get into this. and what size is your tread. I am using DCM Floss. thanks
Hi,
Your fabric choice depends on what you want to do. You can embroider on any kind of fabric. For filming stitches, I use whatever scraps I have available – cotton, linen, etc. I prefer stitching on linen, but for just starting out, you can use regular cotton – a “high count” (fairly tightly woven) muslin works nicely. If you have a project in mind, the project will probably dictate the type of fabric you use.
DMC floss is fine. Depending on the fabric and the project, you would use several of the strands, or, if working something very detailed and fine, one strand.
Hope that helps!
MC
thank you so much for the help. I am going to start working on a cherry blossom tree, I think that I will work on musin. Thanks again
Wonderful!! thank you so much for providing this. i am currently taking on the task of teaching a class of young girls; the lost art of needlework and other “lady-like” accomplishments. I am so happy that I found this site… It will be so helpful!!
Hi!! this is absolutely awesome!! I did a few needlework projects in high school, but that was 2 and a half years ago and it is nice to have something to trigger my memory! have a nice day!
What is the best stitch to use by hand to stitch initials into a childs uniform
If it’s just for identification purposes, I’d just use backstitch. If it’s supposed to be somewhat decorative, depending on the size of the initials, I’d probably go with stem stitch.
Thank You for your help. My grand mother and I are working on Christmas pillows and reading the direction I thought to my self WHAT? Thankfully I found your site and have placed it in My favorites my 81 year old grandmother has really enjoyed doing something again to make her feel useful, Thanks again, Cindy
I’m glad to hear Needle ‘n Thread is helpful to you and your grandmother, Cindy!! Good luck with your stithing!
MC
thank you so much for doing this. i’ve been searching google for “how to embroider” for days, and this is finally helping!
I am lacking words to thank you for all your effort in putting this webpage together to share such a wonderful knowledge!
I remember the childhood years I spend doing embroidery and now that I have two girls (6 and 4) I am ready to get them to join me. You are a blessing…
Thank you, thank you , thank you.
Alessandra
Thank you so much for these videos on embroidery stitches. I needed a refresher course and this really helped. I’m making Hungarian Christmas hearts to hang on my Christmas tree for next year.
marry this is really awesome and i like it as a beginner i would like to try it watching it from windows media player can you please tell me how can i save them.
ahh,searching for a long time for this type of video,you are my angel.thankyou so much!!
my gran and my mom were fab at embroidering. seems to have skipped me. but my daughter, 9 has been asking my mom to teach her and she finds she cant recall a few – this video library is amazing! its all coming back…..wonderful work!!!thank you so much.
Thank you for the great videos. I passed your site on to several of my quilting/embroidering friends. Your site is now in my favorites!
thanks for giving me so clearly instructions.
thanks a lot. & best of luck:-)
Dear Mary,
Your site is awesome. You are a wonderful teacher, and you make it to tempting for everyone to learn embroidery. Unfortunately, I am unable to view your video. It displays the message "This video is currently not available. Please try again later." I am anxious to see your video.
Jem Victor.
Hi, Jem –
It's working now, at least on my end! Let me know…
MC
Thank you so much for posting these free how to videos. My mom died a few months ago and there are still so many things I wish she had taught me. This is the next best thing.
These videos are fabulous! I come back to them frequently to learn new things and refreshers. You'r so easy to follow. I truly appreciate your talent and these videos!
Merci mille fois pour ces vidéos !
Quand on a plus de grand-mère qui peut aider, vos vidéos sont précieues.
Et en plus j'améliore mon anglais !
I'm from France, and so happy to find how to do new stiches !
hi mary,
i know you are a child of GOD. For you to take the time and money to do this for free for others.
i am 72 and on a fixed income and wanted to teach my grand child how to do something other than play videos.
this was a GOD sent craft, thank you, thank you,not many people in this world like you.
Do you have dvds for sale?
Hi, Ann – Thanks for your comment! I don’t have a DVD for sale at this time, but this summer, I will be launching my first one!
If all goes according to plan, that is! So do keep an eye out for it! I’m glad the videos have come in handy for you. I’m in the process of remaking the older ones, so hopefully before too long, some clearer videos will be available. Thanks again for your comment! ~MC
I have done counted cross-stitch for years, but want to branch out with something different using needle and floss. With your tutorials I know that I will be able to learn all the wonderful stitches in no time. I will be buying your dvd as soon as you offer it! Thank you for a well done web site.
Thanks, Susan, for the comment! I’m glad you are finding the videos useful. I’ll be replacing some of these older ones this summer, so that should help a bit. And the DVD? Well, now that you mention it, yes, it should be coming out this year!
Best,
Mary
The running stich is the perfect thing that I was looking for, plus your whipped running stitch. However, what fabric do you use?
Hi, Michelle – In some of the videos, I use linen, and in some, I use muslin. They’re all surface embroidery stitches, though, so they can be done on any type of fabric, really. Hope that helps! ~MC
Thank you for this wonderful effort. I want you to inserting new ,And I love you
NO VIDEO I CAME TO THIS WEBSITE TO SEE A VIDEO, BUT THERES NO VIDEO . I AGREE WITH JEM VICTOR COOL WEBSITE BUT I CANT SEE THE VIDEO WATS UP WITH THAT. PLEASE FIX THIS SOON!
– JAYJAY
Hi, The video works on my end. You may need to update Adobe Flash on your computer…. MC
When you do the running stitch (for instance) do you eyeball the length or do you count threads on the up and the down?
awow!!! tnx to your help…
thanku so much..
Love it. I am new at this (age 64!). Wish I had begun earlier with my “stitching”. Thanks for all the tips. I think I have found a new hobby in my later years.
bellissimo. mi piace moltissimo. uno spunto per i miei ricami da fare sul patchwork.