A running stitch is the most basic type of stitch that you can create. It is probably the first thing that you should start with in case you are not too used to managing a needle and fabric within a frame. Get a large piece of fabric. This should be big enough so that you can put the frame around an area without the fabric running out. Using an even weave fabric may help in the beginning since it will help you to keep the stitches more even. The stitches of the same length will look neater and cleaner.

Thread the needle with the specific yarn that you want to use. Put the needle in the fabric and take it to the back. Bring the needle back up by piercing the fabric from the back. Pull the string all the way up. Then look at the length of the running stitch that you want to make and pierce the needle in the cloth depending on the length that you want the stitch to be. Repeat this and you would have created your running stitch.

The running stitch helps you get comfortable with the concept of a needle and thread and helps you get started with the basics. If you turn back and fill in the gaps that the running stitch has created, it is called the double running stitch or the Holbein stitch. This stitch is used for outlining any object in the overall pattern that you may be creating. This is often used instead of backstitch especially in the case of blackwork.