Pull the needle and thread completely through so that the end knot lies flush against the back of the fabric. Your A point should be at the bottom right edge of your desired stitch line.

Pull the needle and thread completely through to the back of the fabric, creating a flat vertical stitch between A and B. This stitch must be straight, not slanted. The distance between A and B will be the width of your stitch. Unless otherwise specified, a width of 1/4 inch (6. 35 mm) should suffice.

Tighten the thread until it creates a flat vertical stitch at the back of the fabric, mirroring the one on the front.

The horizontal distance between B and C should roughly match the stitch width. In this example, it should be 1/4 inch (6. 35 mm). Continue pulling the needle and thread through to the back of the fabric until a flat diagonal stitch connecting A and C appears on the front of the fabric.

Pull the thread through completely, creating a flat vertical stitch along the back of the fabric from C to D. With this step, you have completed a single zigzag stitch.

Reset your stitch labels at the end of each complete zigzag stitch. In other words, the C point of your first zigzag becomes the B point of your second, and the D point of your first zigzag becomes the A point of your second. For each stitch: Stitch a vertical line between A and B on the front of the fabric. Stitch a vertical line between B and A along the back, inserting the needle through to the front at A again. Stitch diagonally across the front of the fabric from A to C. Stitch a vertical line along the back of the fabric from C to D, inserting the needle through to the front at D. End the row with a vertical stitch across the front of the fabric between the D and C of your final zigzag. Make sure that you maintain the same stitch width and length for each zigzag.

If done correctly, the stitch prior to this should have gone through to the back of the fabric at F. To complete this step, make a vertical stitch along the back of the fabric from F to E, inserting the needle through E.

This newest diagonal stitch should cross over the center of the last diagonal stitch made during your first trip down the length of the row. The resulting stitch will be x-shaped. Note that G lies to the horizontal right of F.

Point H is directly beneath point G and to the right of E.

These stitches should be nearly identical to the ones you created down the first pass, but they will slant in the opposite direction (left to right instead of right to left). For each stitch: Stitch a vertical line between E and F on the front of the fabric, overlapping the vertical post already there. Stitch between F and E along the back of the fabric, inserting through to the front at E again. Stitch diagonally across the front from E to G. Stitch between G and H along the back of the fabric, inserting through to the front at H. The end of the row should conclude with a vertical stitch between your final H and G points.

To knot the thread: Bring the needle through the front and back of the fabric at a spot directly next to your current insertion point. Before drawing the thread flat, insert the needle through the loop you just created. Do so two or three times, then draw the loop closed. This should create a secure knot.

Pull the needle and thread completely through until the end knot lies flat against the back of the fabric.

As you look at the front of the fabric, A and AA should look like the same point. There needs to be a few threads separating them to prevent the stitch from falling out, though. Do not pull the needle and thread through this point yet. Only insert the tip of the needle for now.

The space between AA and B will determine the width of your stitches. Unless otherwise noted, distance of 1/8 inch (3. 175 mm) is usually a good choice. Do not pull the needle and thread completely through AA or B yet.

A little line of thread should run parallel to the needle on its left side. The rest should be tucked beneath the needle, extending down from the needle’s right side.

The needle should now be free and lying along the front of the fabric. Note that the point of the loop comes together at A and AA. The rounded portion of the loop should lie to the immediate outside of B, and the thread should be coming out at B to the inside of the loop.

As with A and AA, B and BB should only have a few threads separating them. Only insert the tip of the needle. Do not pull the entire needle through to the back of the fabric.

Point C should be horizontally even with A and AA. Do not pull the needle completely through BB or C yet.

Slide the thread underneath the tip of the needle coming out at BB, creating a wide loop in the process. Pull the needle and thread completely through to the front of the fabric, tightening the loop you just created.

Each chain stitch should be slanted at a 45 degree angle.

To knot the thread: Insert the needle through the front and back of the fabric at a point directly next to your final insertion point. Before you draw the thread flat, draw the needle through the newly created loop two or three times. Draw the loop closed to create a secure knot.