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Hi, when backstitching over 2 or more squares in a straight line should you back stitch each square or just stitch one long one?

i tend to go over at max 3 squares at a time, but everyone is different try on a spare bit of aida and see which looks better for you, anything you do will look great i am sure


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I think it's really personal preference. I've done a max of 5 at a time when going in a long, straight line. Sometimes though, depending on the design, it looks best when you do each individual stitch. Try out a couple different ways to see what you think works best!

I'd agree with purvislets. It's personal preference and sometimes it depends on the design.

For example, on my Jasimine pixie by Nora Corbett, I stitch every stitch.



But for my Lickle ted design, I'll do long straight stitches, usually up to 8 stitches in length.



In each design the effect I'm going for is different. Neither is right or wrong.

Yes, I'd agree, I've done it both ways depending on the actual design.
Just try and see which way you personally prefer.

Thank you!

I didn't ask the question but thank you for your opinions. I've always wondered about this but never thought to ask - duh! However, I'm with the majority of you....I tend to do what looks best for the particular design I'm stitching.

I have to agree, it depends on the stitcher and on the pattern. My preference is to go the shortest length because of something my great grandma taught my mom, who in turn taught it to me. If you can get the nose of an iron under the thread you've stitched it's too loose . Hope this helps.

If you can get the nose of an iron under the thread you've stitched it's too loose

That's a great rule of thumb! I usually try to keep it at a 3 square max. If there's a series of say 15 blocks all right in a line I'll do 5 runs of 3 squares each. If its a run of 10 I'll do 2 squares at a time. For me its more about keeping the run looking even and uniform.

I do each one separate unless it for like fur or whiskas. Where it would look better than doing each bit separate.

I normally just try it first. Just do the back stitch part all in one just don't pull needle through to much so it's not tight on the front, can easy to it back if it looks wrong then

MoonChild wrote:I have to agree, it depends on the stitcher and on the pattern. My preference is to go the shortest length because of something my great grandma taught my mom, who in turn taught it to me. If you can get the nose of an iron under the thread you've stitched it's too loose . Hope this helps.

Great advice - thanks

For me it depends on the design. I used to do every stitch individually but now I often prefer to go upto 4 stitches in one go, especially if it's for strands of hair or something as they look better unbroken.

Generally, I will do square by square if it is like outlining something. It really depends on the image. I did a sail boat and the lines would have looked bad if I did it like that, so it has LONG backstitches, like inches of backstitching.

I would say that it’s not just personal preference, but also what you plan on doing with the project when you’re done. When I know I’m going to frame the project, I feel more comfortable outlining over several squares. If I’m going to make it into a card or pillow, I backstitch over each square so it is more secure.

I do both depending on the design. the beauty with back stitch is you can choose to lay the stitch over a few and see how it looks without a lot of frogging.

I tend to do one over at a time...but on my current project I am doing longer lines because sometimes a single square horizontally is 10 squares vertically! Trying to do one at a time is too hard.

But I HATE backstitching. Seriously...it is a pain on this project. Not only is there a lot and I can't do one at a time, but I have to keep starting and finishing the thread because the backstitching is so far away from everything!

Sigh. Looking over to being done with the backstitch of this one, which sucks because I had SO much fun with the rest of it!