Back Stitched Herringbone is a variety of Herringbone that is actually a compostite stitch that combines Herringbone and Back stitch. I have only recently started to play with this stitch and it fast became a favorite. It is quick and easy to work which makes it a great stitch for beginners, yet it is versatile enough to be interesting for experienced stitchers. The stitch structure lends itself to many adaptions. For instance it can be laced worked in rows face to face or slightly offset. Back Stitched Herringbone holds a curve and you can vary the arms of the stitch to fill shapes and has ‘feet’ that can be beaded easily. It is a wonderful stitch to use if you want to couch down ribbon. You can use it in surface embroidery and makes a great seam embellishment stitch in crazy quilting.
Since Back Stitched Herringbone is a variety of Herringbone it makes sense that you need to be familiar with Herringbone. If you need a reminder here is a tutorial. You will also need to know Back stitch. I have a tutorial here for that stitch too! You will find it here.
How to work Back Stitched Herringbone
Work Back Stitched Herringbone from left to right along parallel lines. If you need to mark the lines make sure you use a disappearing fabric marker that will either disappear with water, or is air erasable. Back Stitched Herringbone will hide only parts of the line you mark.
Commence by bringing the needle out on the top left-hand side of the line to be worked. Insert the needle a little further along line and make a small back stitch as illustrated.
Pull the needle through the fabric. Your stitch will look like the photo above.
Take your needle to lower line and make a small stitch which points to the left, pull the thread through.
Make a back stitch as illustrated.
Insert the needle on the upper line a little to the right as illustrated, making a small stitch which points to the left. Pull the thread through.
Make a back stitch as illustrated.
Take your needle to the lower line and repeat the same up and down steps until you have finished the line.
A line of Back Stitched Herringbone. I hope you enjoy this stitch!
My book for creative stitchers
If you enjoy my site you will get real value from my book Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery: Visual Guide to 120 Essential Stitches for Stunning Designs
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned embroiderer, Creative Stitches for Contemporary Embroidery gives you techniques to develop a fresh and creative embroidery style. Discover play points in your embroidery. Explore variations in height and width, stacking stitches, or using repetitions of the same stitch to create areas of texture and shape. All these techniques and more will give you creative variations. I have included numerous demonstrations of small tweaks that create big effects. To send you down your own creative path, the book is richly illustrated with plenty of eye candy.
A great stitch, I am sure it will be a favourite of mine, too.
Based on it, many patterns can be made by combining other stitches. It is perfect for crazy quilting, isn’t it?
I love your work!! I want to do a crazy quilt dresden plate. But, have a question on how to get started. Do I make it by attaching it piece by piece to the foundation fabric or do I make the dresden plate and then attach it to the foundation fabric?