Zig-Zag Whipped Back Stitch is worked on a foundation of three rows of back stitch. If you need a reminder on how to Back Stitch you will find it here.
Work your foundation rows in a loose manner because you have to whip them. This means they will tighten as you work.
The pattern of whipping is to whip two stitches from two lines of the foundations stitches, then whip a single stitch on the bottom line, whip two stitches and then a single and so on.
Bring your needle out at the bottom of the line of back stitch and pass your needle under one stitch from the middle line and one stitch on the bottom line, as illustrated. Take your needle under both stitches to whip the two stitches together. Take care when whipping to pass your needle under the stitches not through the fabric.
Move along a stitch and pass your needle under a single stitch as illustrated. Whip that stitch. Repeat this pattern along the line to the end.
Move to the top line (turn your work if it is easier) and continue with the whip two and whip one pattern but offset the pattern. Where you have whipped two stitches on the lower line whip one foundation stitch and where you have whipped one foundation stitch whip two. This pattern quickly builds up and is easier than it sounds.
Since Zig-Zag Whipped Back Stitch is a variety of Back stitch it follows the curve well and be worked on even weave and uneven weave fabric. Zig-Zag Whipped Back Stitch makes an interesting border of worked row upon row for a fill. You can also switch threads at various points in the process. You can work the foundation rows in different colours or use a whipping thread of different colours. Another interesting thing to do with Zig-Zag Whipped Back Stitch is to whip with novelty or metallic threads. You can change the look of this stitch by varying the width or radically changing the spacing between the rows of foundation stitches.
I hope you enjoy Zig-Zag Whipped Back Stitch!
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Thread Twisties!
Experimenting with different threads can be expensive. You would normally have to buy a whole skein of each type of thread. My thread twisties are a combination of different threads to use in creative hand embroidery. These enable you to try out stitching with something other than stranded cotton. For the price of just a few skeins, you can experiment with a bundle of threads of luscious colours and many different textures.
These are creative embroiders threads. With them, I hope to encourage you to experiment. Each Twistie is a thread bundle containing silk, cotton, rayon and wool. Threads range from extra fine (the same thickness as 1 strand of embroidery floss) to chunky couchable textured yarns. All threads have a soft and manageable drape. Twisting them around a needle makes experimental hand embroidery an interesting journey rather than a battle. Many are hand dyed by me. All are threads I use. You may find a similar thread twist but no two are identical.
You will find my thread twisties in the Pintangle shop here.
