If you are newer to hand embroidery, or even have a few projects under you belt, you may be feeling some frustration over the backstitch. While it is one of the more simpler stitches, there a few tips that can definitely elevate it to make it perfect! Find them below. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions! I would be glad to help.

1. Keep Even Stitch Lengths

• Aim for stitches that are consistent in size for a polished look. Using a guide (such as lightly drawn lines or markings) can help keep stitches looking the same. Typically, I am spacing my stitches about 1/4" apart. When you are working around a curve, however, you want to shorten your stitches to keep a nice, flowing line! Aim for about 1/8" around curves.

  • Pro Tip: Take a ruler with tick marks and pre-mark your stitches. You don't have to do this for every project, but it's helpful in the beginning. Eventually and with practice, you can eyeball stitch length.

    
    

2. Practice Stitch Placement

• If you notice that your stitch line looks a little bit wonky...make sure that you are putting your needle directly into the hole of the last stitch. If you place it off, in either direction, it will create a slight angle in your line!

2. Make Sure You Pull Threads Through

• A simple mistake that I often make is I don't pull my stitch all the way through. By skipping this step, it's easy for our threads to get tangled or the back of our work ends up in a mess!

  • Pro Tip: Periodically stop and check the back of your work to make sure you're pulling your stitches through. If you see any slack on the back of your work, you can work the threads up to tighten them.

3. Use the Right Tension

• Avoid pulling the thread too tightly, as this can cause puckering. Maintain an even tension for smooth stitches that lay flat against the fabric. This is particularly true if you are working with fabric that's a little bit stretchy. As soon as you unhoop your work, these stitches will bounce back into place, causing your work to pucker. Instead, pull the stitch just enough so that it lays flat.

4. Choose the Right Number of Strands

• For finer details, use fewer strands of embroidery floss; for bold lines, use more strands. Adjust according to the thickness you want to achieve. To split the threads, unravel the end and pull out how many strands you need. Slide your finger inbetween the thread all the way to the end. For most fonts/personalization on a big project, I will use all 6 strands. For smaller names, such as around a collar or sleeve, I will opt for about 3 or 4.

I hope this helps you in your emboirdery journey!

-Ashley