Finished running stitch embroidery showing neat pink stitches worked in a simple dashed line. — Finished running stitch worked as a simple line of small, evenly spaced stitches.

How to do running stitch

Running stitch is one of the simplest embroidery stitches to learn, and it is a really useful one to have in your stitching toolkit. It is made from small straight stitches with little gaps in between, creating a neat dashed line.

It is a lovely stitch for beginners because the movement is simple and easy to repeat. You can use it for outlines, borders, decorative rows, visible mending and simple stitched details.

Quick answer: Running stitch is an embroidery stitch made from a line of small straight stitches with gaps between them. It is useful for outlines, borders, simple details, decorative rows, gathering fabric and visible mending projects.

Running stitch step-by-step embroidery diagram showing small straight stitches worked along a line. — Running stitch step-by-step illustration.

How to do running stitch step-by-step

Bring your needle up through the fabric at point 1, where you want your line of stitching to start.
Take the needle down a short distance along the line at point 2. This makes your first straight stitch.
Continue along the line, working up and down through the fabric.
Try to keep the stitches and gaps a similar size if you want a neat, even line.

You can work running stitch one stitch at a time, or load a few stitches onto the needle before pulling the thread through. If you are new to embroidery, I’d start with one stitch at a time until the spacing feels comfortable.

What is running stitch used for?

Running stitch is used in embroidery, hand sewing and visible mending. In embroidery, it can create simple outlines, borders, dashed lines, texture and decorative rows. It is also useful for adding small details around a motif without making the design feel too heavy.

In visible mending, running stitch can be used to hold fabric patches in place, add rows of decorative stitching, or build up sashiko-inspired patterns. It is simple, rhythmic and practical, which makes it a nice stitch for slow, relaxing projects.

My tip: I find running stitch looks best when I decide first whether I want it to look neat and even, or more handmade and relaxed. For visible mending, slight variations can look lovely, but for borders and pattern details it is worth taking a little more time with the spacing.

Practise running stitch with a visible mending project

Running stitch is one of the most useful stitches for visible mending. It works beautifully for adding decorative rows, securing patches and creating simple sashiko-inspired patterns on clothes, bags and fabric projects.

Easy visible mending project

Visible Mending Kit

This sashiko-inspired visible mending kit is a practical way to use running stitch in a real project. The stick and stitch patterns help you add decorative stitching to clothing, patches or fabric repairs, without needing to draw the design by hand.

View the visible mending kit

Tips for running stitch

Keep your stitch length and gap length similar if you want a tidy, balanced line.
Use an embroidery hoop to keep the fabric steady and help prevent puckering.
Try shorter stitches around curves so the line follows the shape more smoothly.
Use a faint guideline if you are stitching a straight border or long line.
For visible mending, try stitching several rows next to each other to build up simple texture.

More embroidery help and next steps

Running stitch is a simple stitch, but it can be used in lots of different ways. Here are a few helpful places to go next if you would like to keep practising.

Get the free embroidery sampler Shop beginner embroidery kits Explore iron-on embroidery patterns Try stick and stitch patterns