Open Herringbone Stitch

Herrignbone stitch, alson known as Catch stitch, Mossoul stitch or Russian stitch, is a variation of cross stitch. It is so named as it resembles the bones extending from the spine of a herring fish. Cross stitch is simply a centered “X”. On the other hand herringbone alternates between high and low crossings. It can be used to join pieces of fabric or in ornamental variations commonly used in patchwork crazy quilting. It can be worked either in free-hand embroidery or in counted thread embroidery, especially on Aida fabric. 

Here’s how the open herringbone stitch works on canvas or Aida fabric. 
1. Start your thread in the lower-left corner of the square you want to stitch. Instead of passing the needle through the upper-right corner of the same square, pass it through the upper-right corner of the square situated diagonally up and to the right.

2. Pass your needle from back to front through the hole immediately to the left. Now instead of passing the needle through the lower-right corner of the same square, pass it through the lower-right corner in the square situated diagonally down and to the right.

5. Pass the needle through the lower-left corner of the same square from back to front and then pass the needle through the upper-right corner of the square situated diagonally up and to the right.

6. Repeat the previous steps to complete the row.