Mosaic Stitch in Needlepoint: How to Do It Step by Step

ByElla Schmidt

The mosaic stitch makes small square boxes from three slanted stitches. It is one of the easiest decorative needlepoint stitches, and it works in both small shapes and large backgrounds. This guide shows you how to stitch it, step by step.

A square of needlepoint canvas with a fine checkerboard of small pink and cream stitched boxes, next to a threaded tapestry needle and two skeins of wool
Small mosaic boxes in two colors make a fine checkerboard. Illustration.

What the mosaic stitch is

Each mosaic box has three slanted stitches: a short one, a long one, and a short one. Together they cover a square of two canvas threads by two canvas threads. Rows of these boxes give the canvas a neat, tiled look.

The Scotch stitch is its bigger relative. A Scotch box has five stitches where the mosaic box has three. See both in our guide to needlepoint stitches.

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One mosaic box. Stitch 1 is short, stitch 2 is long, and stitch 3 is short.

How to do the mosaic stitch

Video: how to work the mosaic stitch, box by box.
  1. Stitch 1, short. Bring the needle up through the canvas and take it down one hole up and one hole to the right. This stitch covers one intersection, like a tent stitch.
  2. Stitch 2, long. Come up one hole below the start of stitch 1. Go down two holes up and two holes to the right. This stitch lies next to stitch 1 and covers two intersections.
  3. Stitch 3, short. Come up one hole to the right of the start of stitch 2. Go down one hole up and one hole to the right. The box is complete.
  4. Repeat. Start the next box right beside the first one and work across the row.
  5. Next row. Work the row below in the other direction, with the same three stitches in each box.
Four mosaic boxes in two colors. Every box uses the same three stitches.

Where to use it

  • Backgrounds, small or large
  • Small shapes, because each box is only two threads wide
  • Flowers and other areas where you want a light texture
  • Checkerboards, when you alternate two colors

For more background ideas, see needlepoint background stitches.

The reverse mosaic stitch

The reverse mosaic stitch uses the same three stitches, but they slant the other way, up to the left. When you alternate regular boxes and reverse boxes, the surface looks lightly woven.

Tips for neat mosaic stitches

  • Make the three stitches in the same order in every box. The boxes then look alike.
  • Keep your tension relaxed. The stitch covers the canvas well without a hard pull.
  • Fill partial boxes at the edge of a shape with tent stitches.
  • Block the finished piece to square it up. The mosaic stitch pulls the canvas less than long slanted stitches do, but blocking still helps.

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