How to work Holbein stitch
The classic blackwork outline, the same on both sides.
Step by step
- Working left to right, come up and count five holes along.
- Go down, then come up again five holes further on. Stitches and gaps are always equal in length.
- Carry on to the end of the line.
- Work back right to left, retracing the line to fill the gaps.
- Use six strands for a dense outline, or fewer for a finer line.
Watch
Embroidery Stitch Tutorial - Double Running Embroidery Stitch (Holbein Stitch) (7:22)
By Needlepointers · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 7-minute video from Needlepointers on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.