The Herringbone stitch is very versatile with many variations. It’s fun to experiment with different threads, and different spacing to make visually different looks with this easy-to-stitch embroidery stitch. It is generally stitched in a line, from left to right. It is perfect for a border on an embroidery project, or to follow a seam line to embellish a garment. Learn the basic Herringbone stitch embroidery with our step-by-step embroidery tutorial.

The herringbone stitch forms a V shaped stitch with the crossed threads, creating a continuous twill-like weave effect. This stitch can hem a garment, embellish crazy quilt, create continuous lines as a filler stitch and make a pretty border on a project.

One (1) Sampler

How to embroider the Herringbone stitch

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

A quick and easy easy embroidery stitch, the herringbone stitch can be used for outlines or as a filler stitch. It is a member of the cross stitch family of embroidery stitches

Materials

Fabric to embroider, size to fit your hoop
Embroidery thread or floss

Tools

Embroidery needle suitable for your thread or floss
Embroidery scissors
Fabric marking tool - I used a Frixion pen (Always test first on a scrap of fabric to make sure the marks come out.)
Embroidery hoop

Instructions

Start by marking two parallel lines on your fabric for the stitch. I used a Frixion pen. Make sure to test your marking tool on an edge or scrap of fabric before you mark your piece to make sure the lines come out!

This stitch works left to right. Bring your needle up at A, the bottom left corner on the lower line. Go diagonally to the upper line and insert your needle at B and back up at C. C should be about halfway between A and B.
From C, go back to the lower line and insert your needle at D, bring back up at E. E should be halfway between C and B on the lower line.
Here is another picture of the same step, but showing how the stitch goes diagonal to the upper line and back, then diagonal to the bottom line and back, forming cross stitches.
Let's do this again. Back to the top line, inserting your needle at F, out at G.
Keep doing this stitch across your line. You'll find this is a super quick stitch once you get in the rhythm.

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Here are two rows of Herringbone stitch embroidery with slightly different spacing.

What is a herringbone stitch used for?

The herringbone stitch is an embroidery stitch that is though to resemble the bones of a herring fish – thus called the herringbone stitch. It is worked in a straight line and is perfect for embroidery embellishments for cuffs, borders, yokes and other elements that are straight.

What is the difference between cross stitch and herringbone stitch?

With cross stitch the threads in your embroidery cross right in the middle of your stitch. With the herringbone stitch the embroidery threads cross at different places depending on your stitch height and width. They can be considered ‘cousins’ in the embroidery cross stitch family.

Here is a sample where I used the herringbone stitch as a fill stitch. It creates a net-like effect when stitched in this way.

Start by making little stitches from right to left, alternating across both lines.

Here is a finished 4″ square filled with the Herringbone Stitch! Love it with the variegated thread! I can see this as a great filling stitch — maybe a roof top for a stitched house?