How to Do Running Stitch for Beginners

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The running stitch is one of the easiest hand sewing and embroidery stitches to learn. Whether you’re mending clothes, quilting, gathering fabric, or creating decorative embroidery, mastering the running stitch gives you the foundation for countless sewing projects. In this beginner-friendly guide, you’ll learn exactly how to do a running stitch with simple step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and easy variations.

How Do Running Stitch (Quick Guide)

A running stitch is a simple up-and-down hand sewing stitch, and is often the first stitch beginners learn because it is quick, versatile, and easy to master.

Thread a needle and knot the end.
Bring the needle up through the fabric from the back.
Insert the needle down through the fabric a short distance away.
Bring the needle back up, leaving an even gap.
Repeat the up-and-down motion along the fabric.
Knot the thread on the back to finish.

What is Running Stitch?

Running stitch is a basic embroidery stitch worked in an up-and-down motion. It forms the foundation of many hand sewing and embroidery techniques, making it one of the most important stitches for beginners to learn.

The running stitches and the gaps between them can be even or uneven depending on the effect you want to create. Common uses include hand sewing seams, basting, gathering, quilting, mending clothes, appliqué, and decorative embroidery.

Common uses include:

Hand sewing seam lines
Basting seams by hand before sewing
Hand gathering
Making a quilt
Mending clothes
Applique
Decorative embroidery on clothing and other sewing projects, as an outline stitch.

How to Do Running Stitch (Step-by-Step)

Running Stitch Video Tutorial

Watch the video and follow along with the step by step instructions

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Materials Needed

The only things you need to do a running stitch are:

Hand sewing needle
Thread or embroidery floss
Fabric
Small scissors

Move over to a window or use a bright reading lamp for the best visibility while stitching. Then, follow these steps:

1. Thread the Needle

Thread your needle with either a double or single thread. Commonly, a single thread is used for embroidery and quilting, and a double thread is used for sewing seams. If you are having trouble getting the thick thread through the eye of the needle, use a needle threader. Make sure you knot the end of the thread.

2. Insert Needle from Below

Put your needle in the wrong side of the fabric and come up to the top. The knot will be on the underside and hidden from view in the final product. This is position 1 in my photo below.

Direction: If you are right-handed then you will be working the stitches right to left. If you are left-handed you will be working in the opposite direction of course – left to right.

3. Make the First Running Stitch

Now put the needle back down through the fabric a short distance away. If you are just practicing, try a distance of 1/4 inch (6mm). The closer your stitches, the stronger seam you will create. See position 2 in the photo below. Congratulations! You have taken your first running stitch.

TIP: If you have trouble sewing in a straight line, or are aiming for perfectly symmetrical and even stitches, grab a ruler and mark 1/4 inch (6mm) dots along a line.

4. Create the Second Stitch

The needle and thread are now underneath the fabric—just where you started. Come up from below again at position 3. This will be the distance of the gap. For your first test, come up at 1/4 inch (6mm), which is the same as in step 3.

5. Repeat the Running Stitch Pattern

Keep going and repeat! DOWN-UP-DOWN-UP- DOWN-UP (see numbers 1 to 10 below). See in the sample below. Running stitch can be done at regular intervals or uneven intervals. Varying stitch length gives completely different looks.

6. Finish the Stitching

To finish your line of stitching, knot off the back of the fabric. If you are a complete beginner, here is how you knot off:

Bring your needle to the back and take a small stitch in the fabric.
Before the loop of thread is pulled right through, put the needle back into the loop. Pull tight.
For extra strength, repeat this process. Then cut the thread, and you are all done!

Faster Running Stitch Method

When you are using an embroidery hoop like the one pictured, you will generally need to take one stitch at a time. This is called the stabbing method. But when doing seams, you will be able to make several up and down stitches at a time and sew really fast. Remember to make the stitches as small as possible for the strongest seam.

EMBroidery templates

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EMBroidery templates

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Letters

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Running Stitch Uses

Seams: When hand stitching seams, the running stitch is fast and easy and the one that most beginners use.
Basting: The purpose of basting stitch is to temporarily hold fabric pieces together before your final machine stitching. Sometimes it is easier to hand stitch pieces together first using a running stitch. This enables you to have maximum control over your pattern and carefully fit difficult pieces together. I regularly use this for setting sleeves in dresses or tops.
Quilting: The running stitch can also be used in basting a quilt to sew the layers of fabric and batting together.
Gathering: Most of the time you will use a sewing machine to gather but there are times when hand gathering is easier. Heavy canvas or fabrics can be difficult to gather by machine and so a running stitch may be used. In addition, very fine fabrics are better gathered by hand.
Decorative Embroidery: In hand sewing, it can be used for decorative purposes and creating embroidered flowers, stems, outlines, and intricate swirling patterns.

Easy Running Stitch Patterns and Templates

Running stitches can be used as decoration to outline and create simple embroideries for clothing and quilting. I did this quick cat embroidery to show you how it can be used for outlines of animals, flowers, and any other motifs you can think of. Children’s clothing looks especially cute with animal embroidery. Basically, you can embroider directly on the clothing or sew on scraps of fabric to make patches.

Print block letters on your computer printer and use them as a template to create monograms.

Running Stitch vs Backstitch

Another common hand stitch used on seams is the backstitching. This is a based on the running stitch, which is used to create stronger seams. You can see the backstitch photo compared to the running stitch. The stitches look more continuous, and the gaps have been removed. I have a full tutorial on how to do backstitch.

Running Stitch Variations

Running stitches don’t necessarily need to be evenly spaced. Look at the different looks you can create by varying the stitch lengths. However, if you are sewing longer stitches, keep in mind that longer threads can snag on jewelry and are more likely to snag in the washing machine.

The seed embroidery stitch is one variation. Instead of hand stitching in a straight row, seed stitches use the same up-and-down motion in a random pattern.
Traditional Japanese Sashiko embroidery uses small running stitches to create intricate, repeating patterns.
Double-running stitch uses 2 threads.

Tips for Better Running Stitch

Running stitch is easy to learn, but uneven stitch spacing and tangled thread can make the finished sewing look messy. Here’s how to create better running stitches:

Keep Your Stitch Length Consistent – Irregular spacing can make embroidery look messy. Practicing on marked guidelines can help improve consistency. Evenly spaced stitches create a cleaner and more professional look. If you struggle with spacing, mark guide dots with a ruler before stitching.

Use Smaller Stitches for Stronger Seams – Shorter stitches create a stronger seam because there is less thread exposed between stitch points. This is especially important for clothing repairs and hand-sewn seams.

Choose the Correct Needle – The size of your needle should match both the fabric and thread thickness. Using the wrong needle can make stitching more difficult and create uneven results.

Avoid Pulling the Thread Too Tight – Over-tightening can cause fabric puckering and distortion. Keep the tension firm but relaxed so the fabric remains flat.

Running Stitch FAQS

Is Running Stitch Easy?

Running stitches take very little concentration as it is a simple up and down stitch. Even beginners can do this easy stitch to fix seams and do hand sewing for a variety of projects.

What Thread to Use With Running Stitch

If you are sewing simple seams, then you can use regular thread or a thicker thread for stronger seams or heavy fabrics. When used for decorative embroidery and quilting, the running stitch is usually done with embroidery floss. For basting or decorative embroidery, a contrast color thread should be used. Seams should be sewn with a matching color to create an invisible seam.

Best Needles to Use for Running Stitch

The needle you use for running stitch will depend on the fabric and the thread you are using. For embroidery, use an embroidery needle that has a larger eye to thread embroidery floss. If you are hand sewing a seam, then use a universal or all-purpose needle with an eye size suitable for the thickness of your thread.

Best Fabrics for Running Stitch

Running stitch works well on cotton, felt, quilting fabrics, linen, and lightweight woven fabrics. Beginners often find quilting cotton easiest to sew because the fabric is stable and easy to handle.

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In Conclusion

The running stitch is one of the most useful embroidery and hand sewing techniques you can learn. Once you master this simple stitch, you’ll be able to create decorative embroidery, sew seams by hand, gather fabric, quilt, and build the skills needed for more advanced embroidery stitches.