Following a curve with whipped back stitch

Whipped back stitch is a simple, easy way to follow all sorts of curves in hand embroidery.

The stems in this pattern were created using whipped back stitch.

In this post, I provide step-by-step written and photo instructions for whipped back stitch; if video tutorials are easier for you to follow, I have two at the end of this post (feel free to jump ahead!).

Step 1: Draw a guideline.

I'll be stitching the stem of a flower, which has a slight curve to it. You can use any transfer method you like to draw your guideline; I've used a blue water-erasable pen for my project.

Step 2: Back stitch.

I'm using just one strand of embroidery floss here, but you can use however many strands you like. If you're brand new to embroidery, I have a fuller tutorial for back stitch itself on the blog as well.

Step 3: Bring your needle up through your fabric just next to the hole you created when you started your line of back stitching.

Step 4: Weave your needle underneath the first back stitch, without piercing your fabric, and pull.

Step 5: Following the same direction (in this example, I'm going from right to left), continue weaving your needle underneath each back stitch.

Step 6: To finish, bring your needle down through the last hole you created on your initial line of back stitching.

Video tutorials for whipped back stitch

I have two video tutorials for you - the first is a video of me finishing the second stem of the flower pattern from this post, and the second is an older video of me stitching my cloud pattern. I hope they're helpful!