If you’re looking for a needlepoint stitch that adds texture without becoming overly complicated, Triple Woven Stitch is a wonderful one to learn.

The finished stitch creates an interlocking woven pattern that looks almost like tiny strips of fabric crossing over and under one another. It is especially pretty when used for baskets, clothing, upholstery, architectural details, and other areas where you want the canvas to have the appearance of woven material.

What Is the Triple Woven Stitch?

Triple Woven Stitch is made by alternating groups of long vertical and horizontal stitches. When the groups are repeated across the canvas, they create a woven or basket-like texture.

Unlike ordinary tent or basketweave stitches, which cover one canvas intersection at a time, Triple Woven Stitch travels over several canvas threads. This gives the finished area more dimension and makes the direction of the stitches part of the design.

How to Stitch the Triple Woven Stitch

The easiest way to learn this stitch is to think of it as creating little woven blocks.

1. Begin with the vertical stitches.
Bring your needle up through the canvas and make a long vertical stitch over the designated number of canvas threads.

Work a second vertical stitch beside the first so you have a small pair of parallel stitches.

2. Add the horizontal stitches.
Next, work a pair of long horizontal stitches beside the vertical pair.

Keep the stitches parallel and evenly spaced.

3. Alternate the direction.
Continue across the row, alternating:

Vertical pair → Horizontal pair → Vertical pair → Horizontal pair

4. Begin the next row with the opposite direction.
On the following row, offset the pattern so that horizontal stitches sit beneath vertical stitches and vertical stitches sit beneath horizontal stitches.

This alternating placement is what creates the woven appearance.

5. Continue repeating the pattern.
Work carefully across the area, checking every few groups to make sure the pattern remains aligned.

Keep Your Stitches Smooth

Triple Woven Stitch looks best when the long stitches lie flat and parallel on the canvas.

Try not to pull your thread too tightly. Excessive tension can distort the canvas and make the woven blocks look uneven.

A laying tool can also be helpful when working with multiple strands of thread. It keeps the strands smooth and prevents them from twisting over one another.

Choosing Thread

This stitch is especially attractive with threads that have a little body or visual interest.

Try:

• Merino wool for a soft, substantial woven appearance
• Stranded silk for an elegant finish
• Straw silk for a rustic basket or natural-fiber effect
• Overdyed threads for subtle variations in color
• Cotton floss for a flatter, more controlled look
• Perle cotton when you want the woven structure to stand out

If you use an overdyed thread, be aware that the color changes will become part of the woven pattern. That can produce a beautiful effect on baskets and clothing.

Where Can You Use Triple Woven Stitch?

Triple Woven Stitch works particularly well when the painted area represents something that would naturally have texture.

Some of my favorite places to use it are:

Baskets – Probably the most natural use for this stitch. The alternating direction immediately suggests woven fibers.

Clothing – Wonderful for coats, skirts, scarves, handbags, hats, and other fabric areas.

Upholstery – Try it on chairs, cushions, benches, and other furnishings.

Buildings – It can suggest shingles, siding, fencing, or other repeating architectural textures.

Background accents – In a larger open area, Double Woven Stitch can create a subtle decorative background.

Needle Choice

Use a tapestry needle that passes comfortably through your canvas without forcing the hole open.

For 14-count needlepoint canvas, a #22 tapestry needle is generally a good starting point.

For finer canvas, you may prefer a #24 tapestry needle.

The most important thing is that your needle allows the thread to pass through the canvas smoothly without splitting or damaging it.

A BeeBee Tip

When trying Triple Woven Stitch for the first time, practice on a small scrap of canvas before using it on your painted needlepoint canvas.

Establish one complete repeat of the pattern and then work outward from it. Once you see how the vertical and horizontal groups fit together, the stitch becomes much easier to follow.

And periodically turn your canvas over and check the back. You don’t need a perfectly beautiful backside, but avoiding unnecessary knots and tangled threads will make stitching much easier.

Why I Like This Stitch

Triple Woven Stitch is one of th

ose decorative stitches that looks much more complicated than it really is. Once you understand the repeating pattern, it becomes rhythmic and enjoyable to stitch.

It can turn a simple painted section of a needlepoint canvas into an area with wonderful dimension and texture—and that’s exactly what decorative stitches are meant to do.

If three threads across and thress threads down are too large for the area, I just decrease to two threads across and two threads down.

Happy stitching!

BeeBee Designs