I don’t always have a chance to demonstrate just how powerful backstitching can be. For one, I often backstitch as I finish an area, so getting a picture with just the cross stitching done is almost impossible. Secondly, I work on a lot of smaller projects. But sometimes, I really love to see how the design blooms. I hear so many stitchers moan and cry over doing these stitches. They can be a pain sometimes but they add so very much to the completed piece.

In this first picture, I have all my cross stitches done. It really doesn’t look like much other than blobs of color. You can barely tell what this is going to be (“You are the Sweetest Heart” – Gloria & Pat, PMR3). This panel will be going for a charity quilt, being presented to a special young lady.

And here we are, with all the backstitches done. This chart isn’t really that huge – 40 stitches wide by 89 high. The cross stitches took me about 20 working hours, and backstitching another 8. Precious Moments is well known for its delicate shadings and use of backstitch. It is not unusual to have 4 or 5 different colors used just to add these outlines.