Lesson: How to Embroider Back Stitch

Learn to line draw with stitches using the trusty back stitch!

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Crafting Video Tutorial
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The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 1

step one

 Knot Your Thread

Choose your Omegacryl or embroidery floss color for embroidering and cut a 20” (or "arm's") length. You can use all three skinny strands or remove a strand or two to make your thread thinner. (If you’re doing a delicate design, you may want to do that.)

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 2

step two

Thread Your Needle

Thread your needle, using a needle threader if necessary, and leave about a 6” tail hanging.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 3

step three

Draw Your Design & Start Stitching!

Draw your design directly onto fabric using a fabric pencil, or draw onto a Fabri-solvy sheet and adhere to fabric. Start your first stitch by entering from the underside of the fabric and pull through until the knot meets the fabric on the underside.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 4

step four

Stitch 1 Running Stitch

Decide on your stitch length -- a rice grain or half rice grain are good references -- and enter your fabric with your needle with that length in mind. The smaller or curvier your design, the shorter you'll want your stitches to be.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 5

step five

Stitch Ahead 1 Stitch Length

To set up for backstitch, enter back into your fabric 1 stitch length ahead, and pull through.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 6

step six

Stitch Your First Back Stitch

Insert your needle into the end of your first stitch, stitching backwards, so that the two stitches touch. You've just completed your first back stitch!

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 9

step seven

Continue Backstitching Along Your Design

Repeat steps five and six, backstitching along your design until complete!

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 10

step eight

Once Design is Complete...

Admire your work! Then flip to the back to tie a knot to secure your stitching.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 11

step nine

Secure Your Stitching With a Knot

On the backside of your embroidery, enter a nearby stitch with your needle and pull through most of the way, leaving a loop.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 12

step ten

Secure Your Knot

Enter the loop with your needle and pull through to tighten. You can repeat steps 9 and 10 once more if you'd like to ensure your embroidery is extra secure.

The Neon Tea Party - Step-by-Step - Backstitch 13

step eleven

Get Creative with Other Colors!

If your design has different elements or sections, work in other colors to make your embroidery design dynamic! If you used Fabri-solvy to mount your design, rinse your embroidery under warm water until the fabric sticker dissolves.