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Tent stitches · Easy

Basketweave stitch

Tent stitch worked in diagonal rows. The front looks like any tent stitch; the back is woven like a basket and keeps the canvas square.

Basketweave stitch: the finished stitch on canvas, 25 stitches, all slanting up to the right, in two colors
The finished stitch on canvas. Every stitch runs from one hole to another; the two colors are only there to tell the stitches apart. In the steps, new stitches are red, and the numbers give the order: up at an odd number, down at the next even one.

How to work it

  1. Make the first stitch

    Basketweave stitch, step 1: the first stitch on the canvas. Numerals 1 and 2 mark its ends, in working order.

    Start in the top right corner with one tent stitch.

  2. Work a diagonal row traveling up

    Basketweave stitch, step 2: three stitches on the canvas, the two this step adds in red. Numerals 3 to 6 mark the ends of the new stitches, in working order.

    Work the next stitch directly below it, then the one to the left of the first: that is a diagonal row traveling up. On an up row the needle passes horizontally under two canvas threads.

  3. Travel back down the next diagonal

    Basketweave stitch, step 3: six stitches on the canvas, the three this step adds in red.

    At the top of the row, start the next diagonal with the stitch to the left and travel back down. On a down row the needle passes vertically under two canvas threads.

  4. Fill the area, row by row

    Basketweave stitch, step 4: 25 stitches on the canvas, the 19 this step adds in red.

    Keep alternating down rows and up rows. Each new row tucks its stitches between those of the row before.

At a glance

Also called
diagonal tent stitch
Used for
backgrounds; any area more than a few stitches wide; pillows, belts and anything that gets wear
Coverage
Full; woven, durable back
Direction
Slanted up to the right
Stitch length
Over 1 intersection

Basketweave is the stitch to learn properly. Of the three tent stitches it is the most hard-wearing and the most likely to keep the canvas square.

If you set work down mid-row, note whether you were going up or down. Working two rows in the same direction leaves a faint diagonal line on the front.

Tips

  • On mono canvas, look at the weave: work down rows over intersections where the vertical thread is on top, and up rows where the horizontal thread is on top. The stitches seat better.
  • End threads by running them horizontally or vertically under the back, not diagonally along a row, or the ridge may show.

Where to go next

Stitches

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