Stitching patterns overlap to produce a corner-locked stitch pattern. The corner-locked stitch pattern includes one or more thread interlace points, and one or more overlays of threads from overlapping patterns. A network of corner-lock stitch patterns produces a mesh, which may be embroidered into a substrate, such as a medical textile or biotextile. Corner-lock stitch patterns resist puncture-induced and tension-induced deformation of mesh pores between corner-locked stitch patterns, and may be used to modulate compliance and enhance strength properties of a substrate into which they are sewn.