Running Stitch Embroidery – 9 variations that you can use.

What is a Running stitch?

Running stitch is one of the most basic stitches of all hand stitches. To do this stitch, you must run the thread across the fabric in short intervals.

This is the most preferred stitch to do hand quilting. One advantage of this stitch is that the stitch will look the same on the back and on the front.

How to do the running stitch?

When doing this stitch in parallel rows, you can work it as aligned or stepped rows. Aligned rows will have running stitches one above the other. As shown below, the stepped running stitch will have running stitches in a brick-laying pattern.

Use of Running stitch in embroidery

The running stitch can be used as a base to form several beautiful stitches which can be used for decorating your clothes. It can be used to decorate the borders of kids’ clothes, and shawls can be decorated beautifully with these stitches.

The whole of Kantha embroidery and Sashiko embroidery are based on this stitch.

I love doing the threading of running stitches using metallic thread. It is very difficult to embroider with metallic thread. So using this thread to lace/loop over the base of the embroidery thread of running stitch makes me add a metallic thread to my work.

Different Types of Running stitch

Whipped running stitch

In this variation of the running stitch, the base of running stitch is done first.

Then the needle is inserted through the stitches (Whipped stitches) without piercing the fabric. 

This stitch looks best when done in two colors of thread.

Double running stitch

This stitch is also known as Holbein Stitch, Line Stitch, Two-sided Line Stitch, Square Stitch and Spanish Stitch

Though this stitch looks a lot like back stitch, it is done as a running stitch.

This stitch is a reversible stitch. On both sides of the fabric, this stitch will look the same. I love this as an outline stitch much more than a back stitch.

To do this stitch correctly, first make a line of running stitches then come back and fill in the open spaces.

Completed, it looks like a line of back stitches. The filling stitches can be done in a contrasting color. 

Threaded running stitch / Laced running stitch

This stitch is made by first making a row of sunning stitch.

Weave loose loops under the running stitches with same coloured thread or a contrasting colour without piercing the fabric. 

Interlaced running stitch

First, do a line of laced running stitches, and then come back with your needle and thread and make similar lacing from the other end. This stitch will create round loops around the running stitch

Stepped threaded running stitch

This stitch is done by making two rows of stepped running stitches and looping another thread through the running stitches. 

Looped running stitch.

To work this stitch, make 2 parallel rows of aligned running stitches

Start the needle from the first row first stitch, pass the needle and thread down the first stitch.

Continue to the first stitch in second row; Now bring back the needle under the first top stitch again.You will get a loop.

Continue to the second stitch in the same way. 

Seed stitch

This stitch refers to a running stitch worked inside a design to fill it. Parallel rows of running stitches are used inside the design. The running stitches end up looking like seeds. This stitch can be done in a scattered manner as well.

Pattern Darning

Darning stitches, which are running stitches, are used in long and short versions consistently to make beautiful patterns. I can imagine an exquisite shawl border worked in this manner.

Checkout the post on pattern darning for more details.  

Checkerboard Running Stitch

This refers to running stitches made in rows of 3, or more in a pattern.

Checkout Kantha work and Sashiko embroidery tutorials for more variations of this versatile stitch. 

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Updated on December 23, 2022 by Sarina Tariq