Stitches

Running Stitch

A dashed line made by passing the needle up and down through the fabric at even intervals. The first stitch to learn.

Beginner15 min

Up at the odd numbers, down at the even numbers. Dashed lines show thread running behind the fabric.

How the finished stitch looks.

What you will learn

Put the fabric in the hoop so it is drum-tight.
Cut 18 in (45 cm) of floss, separate the strands you need, thread the needle and knot one end.

Draw a straight line about 4 in (10 cm) long on the fabric.
Bring the needle up from the back at the right-hand end of the line (left-hand end if you are left-handed). Pull until the knot stops against the back.
Push the needle down through the line about 1/4 in (6 mm) along. That is one stitch.
Come up again a little further along the line, leaving a gap slightly shorter than the stitch.
Repeat: down a stitch length ahead, up a gap length ahead. Keep stitches the same length as each other and gaps the same as each other.
At the end, take the needle to the back and weave the thread under the last few stitches.

Work one movement at a time, down then up, while learning. Later you can load several stitches on the needle at once.
Stitches look best slightly longer than the gaps.

The line wobbles

Follow a drawn line and bring the needle up exactly on it each time.

The fabric gathers up

You are pulling too hard. Smooth the fabric flat after each stitch.

Practice exerciseStitch three rows: one with 1/4 in (6 mm) stitches, one with 1/8 in (3 mm) stitches, and one along a gentle curve.