Stitch dictionary

Whipped backstitch

Also known as Whipped back stitch

A line of backstitch wrapped with a second thread that passes under each stitch without entering the fabric. It makes a smooth, raised cord, or a candy stripe in a contrasting colour.

A gently curving line of blue backstitch wrapped with golden-brown thread: a smooth, striped cord.

Quick facts

Type
Line stitch
Best for
Bold outlines, Lettering, Tight curves
Difficulty
Easy with practice (2 of 3)
Strands
Foundation 2–3; whipping 2–3, in the same or a contrasting colour (of six-strand floss)
Needle
Embroidery needle for the foundation; a blunt tapestry needle, size 24–26, to whip
Stitch length
Foundation stitches about 3 mm (1/8 in), a little looser than plain backstitch
On curves
Very good: the wrapping smooths over the joins
Related
Backstitch, Running stitch, Stem stitch

Step by step

Shown right-handed, worked from left to right: the backstitch foundation with the stab method in a hoop, then the whipping, which stays on top of the fabric. The whipping is shown in a contrasting colour.

  1. Work the foundation

    Step 1: a line of four backstitches, the foundation.

    Work a line of backstitch with stitches about 3 mm (1/8 in) long, not pulled tight, so a needle can pass under them.

  2. Bring up the whipping thread

    Step 2: the whipping thread comes up at 1, at the start of the line, and makes its first wrap over the foundation, which is shown paler.

    Thread a blunt tapestry needle with the second thread and bring it up at 1, at the start of the line, beside the end of the first stitch. Pass the needle under the first stitch from above the line, without going into the fabric.

  3. Wrap every stitch

    Step 3: three wraps made, each slanting the same way across the foundation.

    Pass the needle under the next stitch, and the next, always from above the line, without catching the fabric or splitting the foundation. Let each wrap lie snugly without pulling the line tight.

  4. Finish

    Step 4: the finished whipped backstitch: a smooth cord, wrapped evenly along the whole line.

    After the last stitch, take the whipping thread down at the end of the line, close under the last stitch, and secure both threads on the back.

Shown left-handed, worked from right to left: the right-handed pictures turned half a turn, so the stitch is exactly the same. The whipping is shown in a contrasting colour.

Tips

  • Use a blunt tapestry needle to whip: it slides under the stitches without splitting them or catching the fabric.
  • Always pass under the stitches from the same side, so every wrap slants the same way.
  • Make the foundation stitches a little longer and looser than usual, so the needle passes under them easily.
  • Use the same colour for a smooth cord, or a contrasting one for a candy-stripe line.
  • Don't pull the whipping tight: it should wrap the stitches, not bunch them.
  • It gives a raised line on fabric too fine for a heavy thread, and smooths lettering and tight curves.

Common mistakes

Wraps that change direction

Whipped backstitch whose wraps slant one way for the first half of the line and the other way for the second.

Looks like: Some wraps slant one way and some the other, so the cord breaks up.

Why it happens: The needle passed under some stitches from one side and others from the other.

Fix: Always pass under the stitches from the same side.

Caught fabric or split stitches

Looks like: The whipping dips into the fabric or snags, and the line looks lumpy.

Why it happens: A sharp needle pierced the fabric or the foundation thread.

Fix: Use a blunt tapestry needle and slide it between the foundation and the fabric.

A foundation too tight to whip

Looks like: The wraps bunch up, or the needle won't pass under the stitches.

Why it happens: The foundation stitches are too short or pulled tight.

Fix: Make them a little longer and looser.

The back of the work

The back of the same curved line, seen with the hoop turned over: the foundation's back, a rope-like line; the whipping does not show.

The whipping stays on the front, so the back is the back of the backstitch foundation: longer stitches overlapping by half, plus the whipping thread's two secured ends.

Variations

  • Whipped running stitch: The same wrapping over running stitch makes a lighter, twisted line.
  • Whipped stem stitch: Wrapping stem stitch makes a very smooth, rounded cord.
  • Threaded backstitch: Instead of wrapping, the second thread weaves up and down under the stitches in waves.

Compare

Use whipped backstitch for a smoother, bolder, raised line than backstitch alone, or for a two-colour stripe; plain backstitch is finer and quicker. Backstitch

In a Hoopsake pattern

Hoopsake turns your photo into a hand-embroidery pattern with a real stitch plan: it chooses a stitch such as whipped backstitch for every line, matches each colour to a DMC thread and gives you a guide to print. Make a pattern from a photo

Names and history

Also written whipped back stitch. It belongs to a family of line stitches built on a foundation of backstitch, with threaded and laced backstitch and Pekinese stitch.

Questions

Which needle should I use to whip?

A blunt tapestry needle, so it slides under the stitches without catching the fabric or splitting the thread.

Should the whipping be the same colour?

Either. The same colour makes a smooth cord; a contrasting colour makes a candy-stripe line.

Can I whip other stitches?

Yes: running stitch and stem stitch are often whipped the same way, and chain stitch can be too.