I created
each of these diagrams to help demonstrate the stitch, along with a
narrative explaining what you should be doing. The page may take about a
minute to load, because of the number of graphics, but I wanted them to be
large enough to be clear.
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You start with your line drawing, also referred to
as a design element. |
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Your first stitch would begin on the top side of the
design element one stitch length from the end. (There is no hard and
fast rule about where to begin, but most people work left to right.)
Bring your needle from the back side up at approximately where the
first red dot is placed. |
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You will be coming back down into the fabric at the
point of this design element to make your first back stitch. |
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When you have pulled the thread through, your first
stitch will be completed. |
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Come back up through the fabric on the opposite side
of the design element roughly parallel to the starting point for the
first stitch. This creates the first *shadow* stitch. |
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Go back down through the fabric in the same hole
made by your first back stitch. You now have the first two back
stitches in place. |
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Come back up through the fabric one stitch length
away from the first stitch on the top part of the design. Notice
that the thread behind shows through. |
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Complete the back stitch, by inserting your needle
in the same hole as the first stitch. |
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Bring your thread back up on the opposite side of
the design element to start the next back stitch. You can start to
see the herringbone stitch that is forming on the back side of the
fabric. |
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Complete the back stitch, bring your thread across
the back, and come up again on the opposite side to start the next
one. |
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Complete the back stitch, bring your thread across
the back, and come up again on the opposite side to start the next
one. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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And so on. |
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This time, you will complete the back stitch then
come up at the convergence point of the design element. |
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Complete the back stitch and then come up at the
convergence point of the design element again. |
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Make your last back stitch. Your design element is
now outlined in a double row of back stitches and the herring bone
has been created on the back side while you were working the back
stitches from side to side, creating a "shadow" that can be seen
through the fabric. |