Six Needlepoint Stitches For Small Spaces

August 27, 2024 Poppy Monk Needlepoint

Do you struggle to find decorative needlepoint stitches that show well in small spaces?

Finding a stitch small enough to fit more than one pattern repeat in your space, yet distinctive enough to see the pattern, can be a challenge. Here are six decorative needlepoint stitches that work well in most small spaces:

1. Upright Cross Stitch

This is a favorite because it adds a nice texture and fits in very small spaces. We use it a lot for things like the center of flowers, buttons, branches; anywhere you want to add some texture but don't have a lot of room.

Upright cross is a tight stitch so make sure your thread isn't too thick.

The cream face on this Reindeer Needlepoint Kit is an Upright Cross stitch.

Reindeer needlepoint ornament showing an Upright Cross stitch

Here is a diagram for how to stitch a needlepoint Upright Cross stitch:

We also used Upright Cross on the red truck of this popular Christmas truck design

2. Encroaching Slanted Gobelin

The beauty of the Gobelin stitch is that it can slope either way, so you can slant it in the direction that best suits the space. The body and ears of our Sledding Hare is stitched in Encroaching Slanted Gobelin and you can see the different directions used.

A needlepoint ornament of a hare on a sled

Here's how you work the Encroaching Slanted Gobelin stitch.

Encroaching Slanted Gobelin needlepoint stitch

And working it the other way...

3. Double Brick Stitch

You could include (single) Brick stitch here, too, but the Double Brick looks more exotic and it also fits in small spaces. Here it is on the background of the mini Van Gogh Irises...

The Brick and Double Brick stitches can be worked vertically or horizontally. The middle band of water in the Beach Break design uses a horizontal Double Brick stitch.

Examples of needlepoint stitches in small spaces

4. Nobuko Stitch

We have to stop ourselves from using this stitch everywhere! It's an easy repeating pattern that adds a nice texture. It can also slope either way, so we use it a lot on clothes. See Santa in Snow below where we have used Nobuko in two directions for his coat.

Round needlepoint ornament with a smiling Santa Claus on a white background

And, Nobuko going two ways and meeting in the middle...

Nobuko needlepoint stitch two directions

5. Mosaic Stitch

Mosaic is a square stitch but don't be fooled into thinking you can only use it in square shapes; it also works on small round objects where you want some texture.

The lemons on this Lemon Tree design beautifully display a needlepoint mosaic stitch.

Needlepoint pattern of lemons, leaves, and flowers on a gray background

6. French Knots

Great for adding texture and dimension. Also, you can use a single French knot e.g. for an eye, or multiple French knots e.g. for fur and beards. They are versatile and beautiful. Here are French knots on the shirt on our Nutcracker Soldier...

Finished Nutcracker Soldier needlepoint ornament with gold hanging cord, showing a soldier in red, navy and gold uniform among red berry sprigs on cream ground

Shop premium needlepoint kits that come with decorative stitch guides.

Needlepoint kits with decorative stitches

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