Hand sewing · Beginner · 15 minutes

Blanket Stitch

The blanket stitch makes a row of little 'L' shapes along an edge. It's both pretty and useful. It finishes the edges of blankets and felt crafts and can hold patches on.

Blanket stitch: upright stitches the same height, joined by thread running along the edge.

You'll need

needle with a large eye
embroidery floss or yarn
felt or fleece

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Hold the edge toward youWork from left to right with the fabric edge closest to you. Start with a couple of tiny hidden stitches at the edge.
Go in from the frontPush the needle into the right side about 1/4 inch in from the edge.
Catch the loopBring the needle out at the edge, passing it over the loop of thread so the thread is caught under the needle point. Pull snug.
Space it outMove along about 1/4 to 1/2 inch and repeat. Keep each stitch the same height and spacing.
Fasten offMake a tiny stitch over the last loop to hold it, then tie off on the back.

Tips

Draw a light chalk line 1/4 inch from the edge to keep the stitch height even.
When the stitches are packed tightly together, the same stitch is used for buttonholes and thread loops.

See it in the old books

Pictures and lessons from sewing and knitting books published more than a hundred years ago, free at the Internet Archive.

📖 The Mary Frances Sewing Book: blanket stitch (1913) ↗

Sources

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