A backstitch is one of the most basic stitches used in hand embroidery, most often worked in lines that can stitch around curved shapes and be solely for straight lines. The back stitch is commonly used as an outline stitch to define shapes before filling them in with more complex stitches.
Back Stitch Steps:
Embroidering a backstitch onto paper is very similar to working it in fabric. To begin the back stitch, use a needle to pierce your paper with evenly spaced holes along the line you want to follow. You don’t have to pierce the whole shape; start with five holes. How far the holes are apart depend on the thickness of your yarn and the size of the shape you are embroidering. If using a 2ply yarn, aim for 0.3cm apart. If using a 4ply or creel wool, aim for about 0.5cm appart. For a DK yarn 0.6cm apart and a chunky yarn 0.8cm apart.
Take a thread of yarn approximately 30cm long and tie a knot at the end. Start at the back of your paper, then bring the needle up through hole B before going down into hole A.
Backstitch is a relaxing embroidery stitch that forms a repetitive backwards rhythm. Next, start by coming up through your paper at hole C and then down through B. Then go up from D and enter back down into C. Repeat this rhythm working across the holes in your line, ending with thread on the reverse of your piece.
Using a smaller stitch than one large one is a good idea when filling a small space. To prevent tearing, make sure the stitches aren’t too close together so that they can tear!
Back Stitch Letters
Backstitch can also be used effectively for hand-stitched back stitch letters. The simplicity of the stitch allows it to curve around the shapes of the letters and spell out text slogans, quotes, song lyrics and initials easily.
More Stitch Tutorials
Master a Rose Stitch
Learn the beauty of turkey work stitch
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Contempfleury
Contempfleury is the studio of artist Leah Nikolaou. Trained in Constructed Textiles at The Royal College Of Art in London, Leah has a wide collection of embroidery stitched into paper. Be inspired by her pressed flower art collection, which showcases her hand embroidery skills.
