Brick Stitch Embroidery: Even Rows for Dense Fills
Brick stitch is a filling stitch made of rows of straight stitches of equal length. Each row is shifted by half a stitch, so the joins fall in the middle of the stitches above, like bricks in a wall. It gives a dense, even fill with a fine woven texture, and the colour can change from row to row for simple banded shading. In surface embroidery it is usually worked in horizontal rows. Do not confuse it with the brick stitch of canvas work (needlepoint), which uses vertical stitches counted over the canvas threads, or with the bead-weaving stitch of the same name.
How to do brick stitch, in short: fill a shape with rows of straight stitches of the same length, set side by side; start each new row half a stitch lower so its stitches sit between the stitches of the row above, like bricks in a wall.
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Used for | Dense fills, walls, roofs, clothing, fur, backgrounds, banded shading |
| Thread | 2–3 strands of stranded cotton, so the rows cover the fabric |
| Needle | Embroidery (crewel) needle, size 7–9 |
| Stitch length | 4–8 mm, the same throughout the fill |
What You Need
- Fabric in a hoop, drum-tight. Brick stitch is dense, and loose fabric gathers under it.
- A few guide lines. Two or three light parallel lines across the shape keep the rows straight. You do not need a line for every row.
- A needle that matches the thread. With 3 strands, a size 7 needle opens the fabric enough to pull the thread through without fraying it.
How to Work Brick Stitch
- Draw guide lines across the shape, parallel to the direction the rows should run.
- Work the first row along the top edge. Bring the needle up at the edge, take it down one stitch length along the line, then bring it up right next to the end of that stitch and make the next one. Stitches sit end to end with no gap.
- Start the second row with a half stitch. Work it directly under the first row, touching it, beginning with a stitch half the normal length. All the following stitches are full length, so every join sits under the middle of a stitch above.
- Start the third row with a full stitch, lined up with the first row. Keep alternating: odd rows start with a full stitch, even rows with a half stitch.
- Fit the stitches to the outline. At the edges of the shape, shorten the last stitch of each row so it ends exactly on the line, rather than crossing it.
- Change colour by rows to shade. For a softer transition, mix stitches of both colours in the row where they meet.
Where two stitches meet end to end, they share almost the same point. If every stitch goes into exactly the same hole, the hole stretches; bring the needle up one fabric thread away from the end of the previous stitch instead.
Filling Shapes and Shading with Brick Stitch
Brick stitch works best in shapes with straight or gently curved sides: walls, roofs, coats, a strip of sky. The rows can also follow a slight curve, such as the round of a hat or a hill, as long as all rows bend together. On strongly curved or pointed shapes, the stitches at the edges become too short and choppy, and long and short stitch is a better choice.
| Effect | How |
|---|---|
| Even, flat colour | One colour, equal stitches, rows tight together |
| Banded shading (sky, hills, stylised fur) | Change colour every 2–3 rows |
| Softer shading | Mix stitches of both colours in the transition rows |
| Brickwork or tiles | Slightly longer stitches in 3 strands, so the joins read as a pattern |
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric shows between rows | Rows not worked tight against each other, or too few strands | Bring each row right up to the one above; use 3 strands on medium-weight fabric. |
| Joins line up in vertical columns | Every row starts with a full stitch | Start every second row with a half stitch so the joins fall mid-stitch. |
| Rows slope or wave | No guide lines | Draw two or three parallel guide lines and check rows against them as you go. |
| Holes stretch at the joins | Every stitch goes into exactly the same hole as the last | Come up one fabric thread away from the end of the previous stitch. |
| Loose stitches that catch | Stitches too long | Keep them to 4–8 mm. |
| Ragged edges | Stitches cross the outline at different points | Shorten the end stitches to stop on the line; outline in back stitch or split stitch first if the edge must be crisp. |
Where to Use Brick Stitch
- Buildings. Walls, roofs, chimneys and fences, where the brick-like texture fits the subject.
- Clothing. Coats, scarves and hats: a dense fill with a soft woven look.
- Fur and wool. Rows in two or three close shades give a stylised, even fur.
- Skies, fields and backgrounds. Banded colour changes for sunsets or layered hills.
- Geometric motifs. Stripes and blocks of colour in modern designs.
Brick Stitch vs Long and Short vs Satin Stitch
- Long and short stitch: also worked in rows, but with stitches of varying length that split into the row before. It blends colours more smoothly and follows curves, at the cost of more care.
- Satin stitch: each stitch crosses the whole shape. Smoother and shinier, but only for small shapes.
- Brick stitch: regular rows of equal stitches. The easiest of the three to keep even over a large area.
Brick stitch is a good first filling for large areas: it needs no planning of stitch direction. For an overview of all the basic stitches, see our complete guide to hand embroidery stitches.
Practice on a Real Pattern
Our Santa pattern uses brick stitch, along with other basic stitches.
New to Embroidery? Start with a Free Pattern
All of our free embroidery patterns in one place:
Brick Stitch FAQ
What is brick stitch used for in embroidery?
Dense, even fills: buildings, clothing, fur and backgrounds, and simple shading where the colour changes in rows.
What is the difference between brick stitch and long and short stitch?
Brick stitch uses equal stitches in regular offset rows. Long and short stitch varies the stitch length and splits each row into the last, which blends colours more smoothly.
How long should brick stitches be?
About 4–8 mm. Keep the same length across the whole fill; only the first stitch of every second row is half length.
Is embroidery brick stitch the same as needlepoint brick stitch?
No. Needlepoint brick stitch uses vertical stitches counted over canvas threads. In surface embroidery the stitches are usually horizontal and worked freely on the fabric.
