Saddle stitch is a hand-sewing stitch commonly used in bookbinding, saddle and bridle making, leathercraft, and shoemaking.
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,Stohlman 1976, p. 4. pricking iron,Michael 1993, p. 47. or stitching ironArmitage 2020, p. 39. 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.Stohlman 1976, p. 3.
Standardization
One variant of the saddle stitch, with threads running parallel, rather than twisting, is designated stitch number 201 by ISO 4915:1991.
Notes
References