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Definition of "backstitch" []

  • A stitch made by inserting the needle at the midpoint of a preceding stitch so that the stitches overlap by half lengths. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "backstitch" in a sentence
  • "a seam in a pair of men's breeches on that occasion and I thought it was fine when I could sit in my low chair and "backstitch" seams in a pair of breeches for Uncle Dave who was our faithful colored family fire-maker."
  • "Hell, I could join the ends with a backstitch and no one would notice much."
  • "Using a wide zigzag, fairly long stitch length, zigzag along where the two pieces abut (be sure to backstitch at both ends to keep it from unraveling)."