Straight stitch

The straight or running stitch is the basic stitch in hand-sewing and embroidery, on which all other forms of sewing are based. The stitch is worked by passing the needle in and out of the fabric at a regular distance.[2] All other stitches are created by varying the straight stitch in length, spacing, and direction.

Seed stitches (small, detached running stitches) are used on the center ribs of these flower petals.
Pattern darning.[1]

Some sources only use the term straight stitch to refer to the individual stitch or its family of related stitchs,[3] while others use it interchangeably with or in place of running stitch.[4] Running stitch will never be used to refer to a single stitch since a singular running stitch is a straight stitch.

Detail of a contemporary quilt with quilting in free-form white and colored running stitches.
Running stitch.


Running stitches are most often not visible as they are used to close seams.[5]

Running stitch, Holbein or double-running stitch, satin stitch and darning stitch are all classed as straight or flat stitches. Backstitch is also sometimes included in this category.[6]


Uses

Seams, Hems, and Tailoring

Running stitches are used in hand-sewing and tailoring to sew basic seams, hems and gathers; in hand patchwork to assemble pieces of light fabrics; and in quilting to hold the fabric layers and batting or wadding in place.[7] Loosely spaced rows of short running stitches are used to support padded satin stitch.

Darning

Darning has two purposes, decorative and functional, though it is often both.[8] Darning for decorative purposes, often referred to as Pattern darning, is an ancient technique in which parallel rows of straight stitches in varying lengths are arranged to form geometric patterns.[9] Japanese Kogin embroidery is a pattern darning style from the island of Honshū, often worked in white cotton thread on rough, dark blue indigo-dyed linen.[6]

Embroidered Pilow Cover and many more, Naxos, 17th-18th century. Silk embroidery on linen ground fabric. Embroidery: running stitch in alternate alignment.

Running stitches are a component of many traditional embroidery styles, including kantha of India and Bangladesh, and Japanese sashiko quilting and other embroidery styles such as pattern darning and redwork.[10]

  • The running stitch family includes looped running stitches, laced running stitches, whipped running stitches, and others like the Holbein stitch, seed stitch and more.[11]
  • Basting stitches, also called "tailor's tack", are long-running stitches used to keep two pieces of fabric or trim aligned during final sewing, or to otherwise temporarily sew two pieces together.
  • Darning stitches are closely spaced parallel rows of running stitches used to fill or reinforce worn areas of a textile, or as decoration.
  • Holbein or double-running stitches have a second row of running stitches worked in a reverse direction in between the stitches of the first pass, to make a solid line of stitching.
  • Double darning stitches are closely spaced (but not overlapping) rows of Holbein stitches.[12]


  • Arrowhead stitch
  • Eye stitch
  • Algerian eye stitch
  • Fishbone stitch
  • Open fishbone stitch
  • Raised fishbone stitch
  • Flat stitch

See also

References
  1. Christie, Grace (September 1906). "Chapter 9: Methods of Work (continued)". Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving. The Artistic Crafts Series of Technical Handbooks. New York: Macmillan. p. 198 – via Internet Archive.
  2. "Running Stitch". Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  3. "Straight Stitch Family". Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  4. "CyberSeams". Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  5. Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (July 25th 2008). ISBN 0-89577-059-8, p. 46
  6. Enthoven, Jacqueline: The Creative Stitches of Embroidery, Van Norstrand Rheinhold, 1964, ISBN 0-442-22318-8, p. 29-46
  7. Complete Guide to Needlework, p. 200, 220
  8. "Pattern Darning". Sew Guide. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. Christie, Grace: Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving, London, John Hogg, 1912
  10. Gillow, John, and Bryan Sentance: World Textiles, Bulfinch Press/Little, Brown, 1999, ISBN 0-8212-2621-5, p. 172-173
  11. "Running Stitch Family". Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  12. Complete Guide to Needlework, p. 46-47

Further reading
  • Caulfield, S.F.A., and B.C. Saward, The Dictionary of Needlework, 1885.
  • Christie, Grace (Mrs. Archibald Christie: Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving, London, John Hogg, 1912
  • Eaton, Jan. Mary Thomas's Dictionary of Embroidery Stitches, Revised by Jan Eaton. London: Hodder&Stoughton, 1989. ISBN 0-340-51075-7
  • Enthoven, Jacqueline: The Creative Stitches of Embroidery, Van Norstrand Rheinhold, 1964, ISBN 0-442-22318-8
  • Reader's Digest, Complete Guide to Needlework. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (March 1992). ISBN 0-89577-059-8
  • Levey, S. M. and D. King, The Victoria and Albert Museum's Textile Collection Vol. 3: Embroidery in Britain from 1200 to 1750, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1993, ISBN 1-85177-126-3
  • Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials.
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