How to work basketweave stitch
The best tent stitch for backgrounds: diagonal rows that barely distort the canvas and wear very well.
Step by step
- Start at the top right corner of the area to fill.
- Work in diagonal rows, stitching down one diagonal and up the next.
- Work down the 'poles' (where vertical canvas threads sit on top) and up the 'steps' (where horizontal threads sit on top).
- Fit each row's stitches between those of the row before.
- Check the back: it should look like a woven basket.
Pinny's tip
DMC calls basketweave the best tent stitch for hard-wearing items like seat covers, cushions and kneelers.
DMC calls basketweave the best tent stitch for hard-wearing items like seat covers, cushions and kneelers.
Watch
Basketweave stitch in needlepoint / canvaswork embroidery | Needlepoint stitches video tutorial (4:12)
By Sarah Homfray Embroidery · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 4-minute video from Sarah Homfray Embroidery 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.