Let’s Sew 19 – Embroidery 4 – Backstitch

Good morning!
Today we will try our hand at another stitch – the Backstitch.  This is a strong stitch and is used a lot in hand sewing.

What you will need:

Your Sampler square (from Embroidery 3 – Running Stitch)
Embroidery thread/floss
Crewel needle
Sharp scissors
Erasable pen ( I used a Pilot Frixion Ball – available at supermarkets for a couple of dollars)

Nanny edit:  Please see new, detailed info re these pens here and decide for yourself re their use.

Let’s Sew!

With your erasable pen, rule a line at 3.5″ from the top of your Sampler Square.

Using 2 strands, take a little stitch about an inch in from the edge.

Repeat bringing your needle out a stitch length past the start of the line (about 1/8″)

Put your needle ‘back’ down through the start of the line and back up the same distance away so that your thread is in the centre

Now go ‘back’ to that stitch inserting the needle in the same hole (see where the needle is pointing)and bring the needle up the same distance away again.

TIP:  When you put your needle ‘back’, hold it straight up so you can accurately get it in the same hole at the end of the stitch.  This will give a neater finish.

You can see in this photo that I haven’t succeeded, trying to get a photo…

Continue till the end of the row or until you ‘run out of’ thread.
If you run out of thread, finish the last stitch, taking the needle to the back and turn your work over to the back.

Backview

Slip needle under last stitch

and through the loop formed

Pull through gently.
Run needle under the last couple of stitches

Trim  threads

Turn work back to the front and rethread needle

Take 2-3 very small stitches along the line, needle coming out a stitch length away from stitching

Continue stitching as before straight over those small stitches

At end of row, complete last stitch, needle coming out 1/4″ away and double stitch.

Trim thread to edge of fabric

Press on the back

The Back Stitch is a great outline forming stitch.  It is a single row of stitches on the front but when you turn it over you will notice that it is double.
We will use this to complete the mouth, nose and eye outline on our Dolly.

Until next time
Nanny xx