Herringbone Stitch Embroidery Tutorial

The herringbone stitch is a must-learn embroidery stitch that works well for filling in shapes and borders, and it’s even used for framing embroidery! It has many variations: some create a dense fill, while others create a lovely open pattern across the fabric. This tutorial covers the basic techniques and shares ideas for using this intriguing stitch.

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Herringbone Embroidery Stitch Tutorial

To learn the herringbone stitch, I like to teach it using the sewing method, where you grab the fabric with your needle, leaving the needle and thread along the surface of the embroidery while you work. Once you’ve recognized the pattern, you can certainly embroider this stitch using the stabbing method, too.

Open Herringbone

If you’re right-handed, you might find it easiest to work along the line from left to right. For left-handers, work from right to left. (See left-handed photo)

Begin by drawing two parallel lines along the fabric. This will help you achieve a nice, even stitch.

1. Come up along the top line with the needle and thread.
2. Skip ahead by a stitch length along the bottom line, placing the needle through the fabric from A to B.
3. Skip a stitch length along the top line, then place the needle through the fabric from C to D.
4. Continue working the stitches, alternating between the top and bottom lines.

Left-handed Instructions

Closed Herringbone Leaf

The closed variation of this stitch, where the stitches are worked close together, works well for filling in leaves.

To get started, draw a leaf shape along the fabric.

1. Start at the tip of the leaf. Make a short, vertical stitch.
2. Come up along the edge of the leaf, directly beside the first stitch, and make a diagonal stitch across the shape from A to B.
3. Come up along the opposite edge of the leaf, making a diagonal stitch from C to D in the opposite direction from the previous stitch.
4. Continue alternating these stitches across the shape until you fill it in entirely.

Fun Stitch Ideas

• Secure ribbon to the fabric by couching it with the herringbone stitch.
• Combine this stitch with another stitch, such as French knots or raised stem stitch, to make it look even more visually interesting.
• Experiment with different materials, such as silk ribbon or crewel wool.
• Try working this stitch with variegated thread for a more colorful effect.
• Interlace an open herringbone stitch with a contrasting color of thread.

Similar Stitches

Expand your options even more: the open Cretan stitch and the fly stitch look similar in appearance to the open herringbone stitch, making them great alternatives.

I hope this tutorial added a stitch of happiness to your project…keep weaving love into every stitch!