Running stitch and backstitch

Running stitch passes in and out of the fabric at small, regular intervals and is the stitch used for tacking (basting) layers together until they are sewn permanently. Backstitch goes back along the line into the end of the previous stitch for a continuous line.

Beginner15 minutes

ResearchedSewSift editorialChecked Nov 1, 2026

Pinny's tip
Keep the length and space between running stitches the same each time.

What you'll need

Hand-sewing needle: a medium sharps suits most fabrics.
Thread: all-purpose polyester is fine.
Fabric scrap: to practise on.

Step by step

Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric, either with a knot or with two or three tiny stitches on the same spot.
Running stitch: bring the needle up, take it back down a short way along the line and up again, keeping the stitches and the gaps the same size.
Backstitch: bring the needle up, move one stitch length backwards along the line, take the needle down, then bring it up at the end of this stitch.
Take the needle down through the same hole as the previous stitch and bring it up one stitch length ahead. Repeat along the line.
To finish, make a small stitch on the spot and pass the needle through the loop before pulling it tight. Do this twice, then cut the thread.

Watch

Running Stitch How To - Basic Sewing (Hand Embroidery & Hand Sewing) (2:28)
By Red Ted Art (Maggy Woodley) · Open on YouTube

The video this technique page has always pointed to, a 2-minute one from Red Ted Art (Maggy Woodley). Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.

Common mistakes

Knot pulling through. A knot that is too small can slip through mid-stitch; with fine thread, tie two or three knots on top of each other.
Running out of thread. Add plenty of extra when you measure your thread, so you have enough left to knot it at the end.
Uneven stitches. Keep the length and spacing the same each time.

Watch it done

Running Stitch How To - Basic Sewing (Hand Embroidery & Hand Sewing) by Red Ted Art (Maggy Woodley) on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.
Backstitch How To - Basic Sewing (Embroidery & Hand Sewing) by Red Ted Art (Maggy Woodley) on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.
Hand Sewing Tutorial (RIGHT HANDED): Backstitching by Sewn Company on YouTube. Opens on YouTube; the video belongs to its creator.

Sources

All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.