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Choose backstitch for a clear line
Backstitch returns to the end of the previous stitch to form a continuous line. Shorten stitches where the outline turns tightly.
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Backstitch returns to the end of the previous stitch to form a continuous line. Shorten stitches where the outline turns tightly.
Before you start
Prepare a small offcut of the intended ground with the intended needle and thread. Mark the practice area lightly and support the fabric without stretching its grain.
How to do it
- Mark points A, B, C and D in order along a short line. Come up at B and go down at A. Come up at C and go down at B; then up at D and down at C.
- Each visible stitch travels backward while the line advances forward. Keep the gaps between points equal; shorten them on a curve. The front should meet end to end without pulling the ground into folds.
Try this example
Trace a 3 cm straight line ending in a small curve. Compare 3 mm stitches on the straight section with shorter stitches on the bend; avoid bridging across the curve.
Check your result
- Release the frame and inspect front and reverse. The thread should lie as intended without distorting the ground; shorten a stitch or change the sample before pulling harder.
- Coverage and tension depend on the actual ground, thread and stitch length. A diagram shows the route, not a universal thread quantity or tension setting.
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