This variation of the Backstitch involves piercing the previous stitch. The stitched line is finer than an Outline Stitch, and smoother than the regular backstitch, which can look like a dotted line (because the stitches open small holes in the fabric). In fact, this stitch looks like a finer version of the Chain Stitch. An additional use for this stitch is to outline the shape for a Padded Satin Stitch. The needle, when it pierces the previous stitch, pushes it into the fabric, pinning the stitches to the stitching line. When covering a small shape with Satin Stitch, this stitch practically guarantees a smooth edge to the shape.