Stem Stitch Triumph!

I have finally 'got it'! I asked for help and help I got! The tips that helped me the most were:

1. Stay on the line! Don't do the whole slant from one side of the line to the other.
2. Don't worry about making the rope effect, just stay on the line and do the stitch and it will take care of itself.
   
3. Make the stitches smaller around the curves.
   
4. Stitch like you are going to go back into the previous stitch's hole, which would be in the middle of the current stitch. But stay on the line!

With all that said, to me it's like doing the back stitch but with the thread always to the left and coming up in the middle of the stitch and the end of the last stitch, which makes a rope like effect. Now I love the stem stitch and can now embroider words prettily. Too bad I didn't figure it out before I re-did 'Sisters' it would have looked better, but I can't mess with it anymore or it will ruin the fabric.