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Essential Stitches
The handful of stitches that cover almost any canvas — how each one works, when to reach for it, and a free printable cheat sheet for your project bag.
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Five stitches to know
Basketweave, Continental, and Half-Cross look identical from the front but differ in coverage on the back and durability. Brick and Diagonal Mosaic are your first easy steps into decorative stitches.
Basketweave
The most durable tent stitch, worked on the diagonal. It uses the most thread of the tent stitches and builds a woven pattern on the back that gives the canvas real stability and longevity. Best for backgrounds and large areas.
- Work diagonal rows back and forth across the canvas, up one and down one over each intersection.
- Travel down the canvas on descending rows and up on ascending rows, so the needle alternates direction each pass.
- Keep the up-then-down rhythm — never two rows the same way — to build the woven "basket" on the back.
Continental
A versatile tent stitch for small areas, lettering, and shapes. It uses less thread than basketweave but more than half-cross — the "medium" of the tent family.
- Working right to left, come up at 1 and down at 2, moving from lower left to upper right across the row.
- At the end of the row, work back left to right — the needle now comes up top right and down bottom left, the opposite direction.
- Continue alternating direction each row for even coverage on the back.
Half-Cross
The lightest tent stitch — quick to work and economical, with the least thread on the back. Best on smaller pieces where wear matters less.
- Working left to right, come up at the bottom of an intersection and down at the top right.
- Keep every stitch slanting the same direction across the row.
- Work the next row keeping the same slant on the front.
Brick (Horizontal)
Offset horizontal straight stitches that lock together like brickwork - fast coverage with a subtle texture. A wonderful first decorative stitch.
- Work horizontal straight stitches over two canvas threads in a row, skipping one hole between each.
- On the next row, offset each stitch by one thread so it nestles into the gap above (the brick stagger).
- Continue row by row, keeping the offset consistent.
Brick (Vertical)
The same brickwork stagger worked upright - lovely for borders, sashing, and vertical fills.
- Work vertical straight stitches over two canvas threads in a column, skipping one hole between each.
- On the next column, offset each stitch by one thread so it nestles into the gap beside it.
- Continue column by column, keeping the offset consistent.
Diagonal Mosaic
Small diagonal steps that travel across the canvas for an all-over woven texture. A lovely and easy stitch to learn after you've mastered basketweave.
- Work a repeating unit on the diagonal: a short tent stitch, then a longer stitch over two intersections.
- Continue the short-long rhythm in a diagonal line across the canvas.
- Work the next diagonal row alongside the first, keeping the pattern aligned.
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Get the cheat sheet
Join the Grant Point list and we'll send the Essential Stitches cheat sheet straight to your inbox — all five stitches on a printable to keep in your project bag.
One printable reference. Over 150 more stitches live in the Skeins app.