Saddle stitch

Saddle stitch is a hand-sewing stitch commonly used in bookbinding, saddle and bridle making, leathercraft, and shoemaking.

Saddle stitches on a dog collar

Structure

Saddle stitch uses two threads in alternating running stitches through a single line of holes. The holes may be created by the sewing needles themselves in lighter materials, or by an awl,^[1] pricking iron,^[2] or stitching iron^[3] in thicker materials, such as leather.

Compared to the more common lockstitch often sewn by machine, breaking one side of a saddle stitch loosens only one side of the stitch, rather than several surrounding stitches on both sides.^[4]

Standardization

One variant of the saddle stitch, with threads running parallel, rather than twisting, is designated stitch number 201 by ISO 4915:1991.^[5]