LEVEL: Easy
USE: Details, outlines, lettering, and as a base for complex stitches
OTHER NAMES: Point arrière, Puntos pespunte
The backstitch is a basic outline stitch used in all types of surface embroidery. It’s a very versatile stitch that can be used in all kinds of projects, from beginners to more advanced embroidery.
Similar to the running stitch, the backstitch is creating straight lines but without the gaps in between the stitches, giving it a continuous appearance.
Watch Video Tutorial
Step 1
Bring your needle up and go back creating one Straight Stitch.
Step 2
Come up again one stitch forward and go back down right at the beginning of your last stitch. The trick here is not to leave any gaps between your stitches and to keep the same length of your stitches.
Step 3
Repeat this process until you end up with a continuous line.
TIP: It’s a much stronger stitch and it can replace the machine stitching if required.
I’m using the backstitch quite a lot in my line art beginner patterns.
In the photo above, you can see the backstitch is used to embroider the outlines for the Luna Goddess pattern on 100% cotton fabric.
For her body, I used the backstitch, for the stars I used French Knots and Straight stitches.
Here’s another example with the backstitch in action. In the image above I used the backstitch to embroidery my Botanical Goddess pattern onto a linen tote bag.
The backstitch can be also used as a base for more complex stitches as the Pekinese Stitch and Whipped Backstitch. When whipped with another thread it creates a rope-style line.
If whipped with another thread of a different color you can achieve really fancy and esthetical pleasing effects.
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More Embroidery Stitches
What is your favorite embroidery stitch? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to tag @makenstitch on Instagram or hashtag it #makenstitch so we can connect!
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