tent stitch

needlepoint

Also known as: continental stitch, petit point stitch

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Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The tent stitch is a short stitch that slants to the right, primarily used in embroidery to create solid backgrounds with even lines. It is a fundamental stitch in needlepoint, a type of canvas embroidery where stitches are counted and worked over a canvas foundation.12

Needlepoint utilizes various stitches, with the tent stitch being one of the most common since the 16th century. This stitch covers only one mesh of the canvas, distinguishing it from stitches that cover multiple meshes. While wool is typically used for needlepoint, silk yarn can also be employed. The development of canvas as a foundation in the 17th century was driven by the demand for durable, embroidered furniture.2

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needlepoint
…intersection of threads, and the tent stitch, which covers only one. Since the 16th century the most commonly used stitches have been the tent (or continental) stitch, the vertically worked Florentine stitch (also called the flame, bargello, or Hungarian stitch), and the cross-stitch. In the 20th century the basket weave,…
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…intersection of threads, and the tent stitch, which covers only one. Since the 16th century the most commonly used stitches have been the tent (or continental) stitch, the vertically worked Florentine stitch (also called the flame, bargello, or Hungarian stitch), and the cross-stitch. In the 20th century the basket weave,…
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petit point
…used—also called petit point or tent stitch—is worked either in diagonal or horizontal rows across the intersection of the canvas threads. The thread is carried back from stitch to stitch in a uniform manner to ensure that the pull of the thread at the front is consistent.
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…used—also called petit point or tent stitch—is worked either in diagonal or horizontal rows across the intersection of the canvas threads. The thread is carried back from stitch to stitch in a uniform manner to ensure that the pull of the thread at the front is consistent.
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