n. [ Back, adv. + stitch. ] A stitch made by setting the needle back of the end of the last stitch, and bringing it out in front of the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sew with backstitches; as, to backstitch a seam. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A buttonhole stitch worked wide apart on the edge of material, as blankets, too thick to hem. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. (Needlework) To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; -- used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Machine Sewing) A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a chain on the under side of the work; the loop stitch, as distinguished from the lock stitch. See Stitch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A form of stitch, where the stitches are diagonal and in pairs, the thread of one stitch crossing that of the other. “Tent and cross-stitch.” Sir W. Scott. -- Cross"-stitch`, v. t. & i. [1913 Webster]

2. embroidery done in cross-stitch. [WordNet 1.5]

n. A kind of embroidery stitch producing a branching zigzag line. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. The simplest stitch in knitting. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. same as handsewn.
Syn. -- handsewn. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a stitch used in sewing hems on skirts and dresses. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Hemstitched p. pr. & vb. n. Hemstitching. ] [ Hem + stitch. ] To ornament at the head of a broad hem by drawing out a few parallel threads, and fastening the cross threads in successive small clusters; as, to hemstitch a handkerchief. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a broad hem separated from the body of the article by a line of open work; as, a hemistitched handkerchief. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. A peculiar sort of stitch formed by the locking of two threads together, as in the work done by some sewing machines. See Stitch. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stitched according to a formal pattern. “An old set-stiched chair, valanced, and fringed with party-colored worsted bobs.” Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. loose stitch catching only a thread or two of fabric, designed to be invisible from the right side. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. A stitch in lace making used to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A stitch used in stem work to produce a fine line, much used in old church embroidery to work the hands and faces of figures. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OE. stiche, AS. stice a pricking, akin to stician to prick. See Stick, v. i. ] 1. A single pass of a needle in sewing; the loop or turn of the thread thus made. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A single turn of the thread round a needle in knitting; a link, or loop, of yarn; as, to let down, or drop, a stitch; to take up a stitch. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Cf. OE. sticche, stecche, stucche, a piece, AS. stycce. Cf. Stock. ] A space of work taken up, or gone over, in a single pass of the needle; hence, by extension, any space passed over; distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

You have gone a good stitch. Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

In Syria the husbandmen go lightly over with their plow, and take no deep stitch in making their furrows. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A local sharp pain; an acute pain, like the piercing of a needle; as, a stitch in the side. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was taken with a cold and with stitches, which was, indeed, a pleurisy. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A contortion, or twist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If you talk,
Or pull your face into a stitch again,
I shall be angry. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Any least part of a fabric or dress; as, to wet every stitch of clothes. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A furrow. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. An arrangement of stitches, or method of stitching in some particular way or style; as, cross-stitch; herringbone stitch, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Chain stitch,
Lock stitch. See in the Vocabulary. --
Pearl stitch, or
Purl stitch. See 2nd Purl, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Stitched p. pr. & vb. n. Stitching. ] 1. To form stitches in; especially, to sew in such a manner as to show on the surface a continuous line of stitches; as, to stitch a shirt bosom. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sew, or unite together by stitches; as, to stitch printed sheets in making a book or a pamphlet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Agric.) To form land into ridges. [ 1913 Webster ]

To stitch up, to mend or unite with a needle and thread; as, to stitch up a rent; to stitch up an artery. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To practice stitching, or needlework. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of hairy wool. [ Prov. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who stitches; a seamstress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Needlework; -- in contempt. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of one who stitches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Work done by sewing, esp. when a continuous line of stitches is shown on the surface; stitches, collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) See Stichwort. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to go the whole length of any business; fully; completely. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Preservance alone can carry us thoroughstitch. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + stitch. ] To open by picking out stitches; to take out, or undo, the stitches of; as, to unstitch a seam. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A tailor; -- so called in contempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything hastily put or stitched together; hence, a hasty composition. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Agric.) The act or process of whipstitching. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A small bit; esp., a small interval of time; an instant; a minute. [ Dial. or Colloq. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. 1. (Agric.) To rafter; to plow in ridges, as land. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sew by passing the thread over and over; to overcast; whip. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]