Backstitch

The Backstitch tool (B) draws backstitch lines of any length, from hole to hole on the canvas grid.

Drawing a Backstitch Line

1. Select a color in the Palette
2. Select the Backstitch tool (press B or click it in the toolbar)
3. Click the hole where the line starts. Every point snaps to the nearest grid hole, including the holes along the right and bottom edges. A ring shows which hole will be used
4. Click each hole in turn to continue the line

To finish the line, do any of these:

• Click the last hole again
• Press Enter or Escape
• Click the Backstitch toolbar button again
• Pick another tool

A line with only one point is discarded.

On iPad and Android

• Tap a hole to place a point
• Drag with one finger to move the design, and pinch to zoom, without adding points
• Apple Pencil places points as soon as it touches the screen

Working with Backstitch

• Lines are drawn on the active layer. Nothing is drawn on a locked layer
• The Eraser removes backstitch lines, and one Undo brings back everything erased in a stroke
• Deleting a color's stitches with the rust ✕ in the Palette also deletes that color's backstitch on the layer
• A color used only for backstitch still counts as in use, so it can't be removed from the palette by accident

Backstitch in Exports and Estimates

• Backstitch lines are saved with your design and print on PDF charts
• Each backstitch color gets its own entry in the PDF's Color and Symbol Legend (marked backstitch)
• Thread estimates include backstitch, measured from the length of the lines
• OXS export writes the lines as backstitch, so other cross-stitch programs can read them

You can show or hide the Backstitch tool in Settings > Toolbar Visibility….