Embroidery Stitch Video Tutorial: Backstitch

The backstitch is one of those basic stitches used in many types of hand embroidery, but, although it’s a basic stitch, it’s extremely versatile and can be used in any kind of surface embroidery project, from beginner’s embroidery all the way through expert.

Like the running stitch, the backstitch creates a line made up of straight stitches, but unlike the running stitch, there is no space between each stitch.

In the photo above, you can see the backstitch being used to embroider a word in my hand embroidered lettering tutorials.

In that tutorial, I also cover how to “travel” the threads on the back of the fabric, to keep the work neat. If you’re looking for information on how to use the backstitch to embroider words or letters, you might want to check out that embroidered lettering lesson.

The backstitch is also used to form the base of many composite stitches. In the photo above, it is used as the base of Pekinese stitch, laced backstitch, and whipped backstitch.

Backstitch stitch can be worked on straight lines, curved lines, tightly curved lines. When it is whipped with another thread of the same color, it creates a solid line that looks a little ropey, stands up a bit from the fabric, and that smooths itself around curves quite well.

Here’s an example of outlining done with whipped backstitch:

You can read more about it in this article on adding texture to embroidery with simple stitches.

There are many other stitch combinations that employ backstitch, so never underestimate the value of this simple stitch!

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Whipped Back Stitch Tutorial

First, make a line of back stitches using one color.

Step 1: Come up along a marked line with needle and thread. Make a stitch along the line.

Step 2: Come up along the line a stitch length ahead.

Step 3: Make a stitch backwards, ending at the top of the first stitch.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 the desired length.

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Sarah’s Hand Embroidery is your one stop destination for hand embroidery stitch lessons with step-by-step illustrations, patterns, projects, and a bit of history.

Sarah has been researching and sharing hand embroidery lessons for over 17 years, making it accessible to everyone around the globe.

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