Backstitch: How to Do It Step by Step

Backstitch is a hand embroidery stitch that makes solid continuous line. Makers reach for it for lettering, outlines in cross stitch, fine detail. It is rated beginner here, so it is a good stitch to learn early and practice on a small swatch before a real project.

1. Bring the needle up one stitch length ahead of the start point. 2. Insert it back down at the start point. 3. Bring the needle up one stitch length ahead of the last stitch. 4. Insert it down into the end hole of the previous stitch. 5. Repeat, keeping stitches the same length. Work slowly for the first few repeats, keep your tension even, and check the result against the steps before continuing across a whole row or motif.

US patterns abbreviate backstitch as bs. UK patterns use the same abbreviation, bs, so this one reads the same on both sides of the Atlantic. Pattern keys list every abbreviation used, usually near the materials list.

The most common problems are: leaving gaps by not going back into the shared hole; stitches too long on curves. Most are easy to spot if you pause after a few repeats and compare your work with the steps. Good light helps a great deal, especially with dark yarn or thread.

Stitches closely related to backstitch include Split Stitch, Stem Stitch, Running Stitch. Learning them together makes patterns easier to read, because many designs switch between related stitches to change texture, height or line. Each has its own step-by-step page in the stitch dictionary.