How To Backstitch

Knowing how to backstitch is a very handy skill...it used in embroidery for outlining and adding fine details to imagery. For your knitting and crochet projects it can be just as useful for making simple pictorials, writing a word or name, making flower stems, and whatever else you wish to embellish.

To start all you need is your fabric or crochet/knitted piece, some yarn or embroidery floss, and an appropriately sized needle...I used a tapestry needle (or yarn needle as they are sometimes called) to thread the yarn on the needle with a tail.

For the first stitch, bring the yarn up from underneath,

and then back down...that's the first stitch.  Now, bring the yarn back up from underneath as shown below, about the same width away as the first stitch you made.

Now come back down as shown to complete the second stitch...

Continue in this manner until you have made what you wish!  I did this little curlicue to show you that you can do both straight and curved lines and the lines can cross too.

Oh, I almost forgot...if you like the little green flower in the pictures, here's how to embroider that too:

How To Embroider A Lazy Daisy

Backstitching is a really fun way to add a name to a special blanket, or a little heart to a cute hat, it is so simple, yet adds so much to something handmade!