How to Do Running Stitch (Easy Step-by-Step for Beginners)
Running stitch is one of the easiest embroidery stitches for beginners to learn. It is made from a line of small, straight stitches with little gaps in between, and is useful for outlines, borders, simple shapes and decorative details.
If you are new to embroidery, running stitch is a lovely place to start. It is easy to control, helps you get used to making even stitches, and once you find the rhythm it can feel very relaxing to sew.
How to do running stitch (easy step-by-step)
This simple method will help you stitch an even running stitch line with neat, balanced gaps.
- Bring your needle up through the fabric at the point where you want your line to start (1).
- Take the needle down a short distance along the line to make your first straight stitch (2).
- Bring the needle back up the same distance along the line, leaving a small gap between the stitches.
- Continue working in this way, alternating up and down stitches, keeping the stitches and gaps a similar size so the running stitch line looks even.
More about running stitch
Running stitch appears in both decorative embroidery and everyday sewing. In embroidery it can outline shapes, create dashed lines, add texture in parallel rows or suggest movement such as ripples and trails. In simple sewing it is also used as a quick way to gather fabric or temporarily hold pieces together.
You can keep your stitches very small for fine outlines, or make them longer and more spaced out for a looser, more textured look. Running stitch combines well with back stitch, lazy daisy stitch and French knots, and it often features in modern, simple designs as a clean line. Many embroidery patterns use running stitch for borders, stems and little details around a motif.
Try running stitch in a real project. These beginner-friendly embroidery kits include simple outlines, borders and decorative details, making them a lovely way to practise running stitch as you sew.
Want to try running stitch in a project?
Running stitch is a useful beginner stitch for simple outlines, borders and small details. If you would like to practise it in a real project, you can browse my beginner-friendly kits and patterns, or start with the free sampler.
Tips for running stitch
- Keep an eye on both stitch length and gap length so the line feels balanced.
- Use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric flat and avoid puckering.
- Work with shorter lengths of thread so it glides smoothly through the fabric.
- Draw a faint guideline in pencil or erasable pen if you find it helpful to follow a straight line.
- Try stitching several rows next to each other to turn running stitch into a simple textured fill.