Cross Stitch Back Stitch Tutorial

The back stitch is an embroidery stitch you may see in cross stitch patterns. It adds more definition to the edge of cross stitch and can also add small details and lettering.

While some people shy away from this stitch, it’s easy to learn and opens up a world of possibilities for your cross stitch designs.

The back stitch is named this way because the needle skips ahead a stitch length and works its way backward to complete each stitch.

This post is part of several posts all about cross stitch. Check out the beginner’s guide to cross stitching to learn more.

How To Do The Back Stitch For Cross Stitch

Getting Started

This stitch works well on any cross stitch fabric.

It’s slightly easier to achieve smoother lines of stitches using a higher thread count linen or even weave. But for simplicity and visibility, I chose to use two strands of floss on 14-count Aida for this example.

Most of the time, you can get away with using a tapestry needle, following the holes in between the threads of the fabric, but there may be times when the stitches end in the middle of a thread block. An embroidery needle is helpful to have on hand to make it easier to split through the fabric.

Follow the step by step instructions below, or you can jump to the video tutorial.

How To Do The Back Stitch (Stabbing Method)

Bring the needle and thread through the back of the fabric. Place the needle down through the hole directly below the working thread. Pull the thread through.

Come up through the fabric one hole above the end of the stitch you just made.

Make the next stitch backward, bringing the needle back down through the same hole where the end of the last stitch is.

Continue making stitches: moving one stitch length ahead, then making the stitch backward.

Changing Directions

You can easily change the direction of your stitches by stitching in the holes that are right, left, or diagonal to your stitches.

Back Stitch Using The Sewing Method

If you prefer to work in hand, the sewing method is much quicker to work the back stitch.

The needle should be inserted through the back of the fabric and placed directly below the working thread. The tip of the needle should be above the working thread, where you want the end of the next stitch to be.

For this example, I made stitches across two threads at a time, placing the needle two below, then two above the working thread.

Pull the working thread through the fabric.

Place the needle down through the same hole where the last stitch ends, then place the tip in the desired hole above the working thread.

You’ll keep working from the end of the last stitch to change directions. Then, place the tip of the needle in the working thread’s right, left, or diagonal hole.

The Back Stitch In A Cross Stitch Pattern

In cross stitch charts, the back stitch is usually noted as a solid line. If the pattern doesn’t specify how many strands to use, 1 or 2 strands are generally sufficient.

The back stitch can follow the natural holes in the fabric, but there may be times when the stitches are made in the middle of thread blocks when you’re stitching on Aida.

And sometimes, you may have to change the length you make the stitches.

Let’s walk through an example to show how to break down each part of the back stitch.

This little flower design appears to be very simple, but if you look at where the back stitches intersect, you’ll realize that there is a little bit of planning you’ll need to do.

The base of the stem runs in the middle of a thread block and spans 3.5 squares until it intersects with smaller branches.

It’s best to end stitches where they intersect other stitches, so that means we’ll have to vary the stitch length. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as making stitches across the same amount of threads every time!

• For the base of the stem, I made two stitches that start along the 18th square and end in the middle of the 15th square. The first stitch starts in the middle of the thread block and spans two threads. Then, the second stitch spans 1.5 threads.
• Both of the small branches that intersect the main stem are easily worked as one stitch, starting at the top of the main stem and ending in the hole between the flower petals.

• Lengthen the main stitch two more stitches until it ends underneath the center flower (top of the 11th horizontal gridline)
• The middle branches extend straight across, then slant upward. For both of these, make a horizontal back stitch across two threads, then a diagonal stitch across one thread.
• Finally, for the small diagonal branches along the top, make one stitch for each one that starts beside the middle flower (8th horizontal gridline) and ends in the middle of the thread block, directly underneath each petal (6th horizontal gridline).

Back Stitch Tips

• Making shorter stitches will help curved lines appear more smooth.
• It is easiest to start this stitch using a loop start so your thread doesn’t slip through.

You’ll get the hang of this stitch in no time after a little bit of practice! If you want to learn more types of cross stitches, check out this post about fractional cross stitches.

Back Stitch Video Tutorial

Amanda

Amanda is a hand embroidery teacher and artist. With over 15 years of experience in the craft industry and embroidery, she owns and runs Crewel Ghoul, sharing accessible tutorials and patterns to help inspire fellow crafters to get creative. In addition to running this website, she teaches on Skillshare and Youtube.