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Home Β» Sewing Β» Embroidery

BLANKET STITCH - How to do Blanket Stitch for Beginners

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In this easy tutorial, I will show you the basics of how to do blanket stitch. Blanket stitch is a versatile embroidery stitch that can be used for functional or decorative purposes. Use it on the edge of blankets, quilts or tea-towels or for sewing felt toys and accessories.

Blanket Stitch

Contents

  • What Is Blanket Stitch?
  • Blanket Stitch Supplies
  • How to do Blanket Stitch - Video
  • HOW TO DO BLANKET STITCH TUTORIAL
  • Blanket Stitch - Joining Pieces
    • Step 1 - Starting Knot
    • Step 2 - Starting Stitch
    • Step 3 - First Stitch
    • Step 4 - Repeat
  • Blanket Stitch - Corners
    • Step 1 - First Side
    • Step 2 - The Corner
  • Blanket stitch - Changing Threads
    • Step 1 - Finish First Thread
    • Step 2 - New Thread
  • Blanket Stitch - Applique
    • Step 1 - Hide the Knot
    • Step 2 - First Stitch
    • Step 3 - Blanket Stitch
  • Blanket Stitch for Hems
  • Blanket Stitch Projects
  • More Hand Stitching Articles

What Is Blanket Stitch?

Blanket stitch is a type of hand stitch used on the edge of thicker materials such as felt and wool. It can be decorative such as the pretty borders found on blankets, or it can be used to join edges together in felt toys and sewing projects.

Blanket stitch is often used to applique fabric as it gives a nice edge while preventing fraying.

Blanket Stitch Supplies

For sewing blanket stitch, you will need a hand sewing needle and some thread.

For Decorative Blanket Stitch:

  • Embroidery thread
  • Embroidery needle

An embroidery thread can be a little hard to thread through the eye of a needle so make sure you read my article on how to use a needle threader. For items such as blankets, a thick wool yard can even be used. Read embroidery tools

For Joining Blanket Stitch:

  • You can use an all-purpose thread or for a thicker look, use an embroidery thread. Embroidery thread comes in several strands intertwined so you can choose as many threads as you like.
  • Hand sewing needle to suit the thread.

How to do Blanket Stitch - Video

Please enjoy this video I made of how to do blanket stitch. The video also shows you how to do blanket stitch and sew corners and change threads.

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for more weekly sewing and craft videos.

Blanket Stitch Video

HOW TO DO BLANKET STITCH TUTORIAL

In this tutorial, I will show you

  1. How to do blanket stitch - joining stitch
  2. How to do blanket stitch corners
  3. Changing threads on the blanket stitch
  4. Blanket stitch applique
  5. Embroidery with blanket stitch

Blanket Stitch - Joining Pieces

Blanket stitch is great for joining felt pieces to make softies, Christmas decorations and home decor.

Step 1 - Starting Knot

When starting blanket stitch, the first stitch needs to be done slightly differently so an anchor is created for the first stitch.

Knot the end of your thread. It can be double or single depending on the look you would like to achieve and the thickness of your thread.

Further Reading: How to thread a needle

To start, bring the needle through the middle of the 2 layers up to the top. This way the knot will be concealed between the layers of fabric.

Trim the thread close to the knot and push the loose end to the inside so it is completely hidden.

Hide the Knot
Hide the Knot

Step 2 - Starting Stitch

Bring the needle down to the bottom layer and then push it up through the same hole the thread first came through.

Anchoring First Stitch
Anchoring First Stitch

Pull gently but stop before you have almost pulled the thread through. See how there is a loose loop formed.

Anchoring First Stitch
Anchoring First Stitch

Put the needle back through the loop.

Now you can pull the thread tight and this will form your starting stitch.

Anchoring First Stitch
Anchoring First Stitch

Step 3 - First Stitch

Put the needle through your fabric layers from the top down a short distance from your first stitch.

Where the needle comes out at the bottom, wrap the thread underneath the needle as pictured.

This is the part that gets most people confused. Just remember to always have the thread wrapping around underneath the tip of the needle and you will be fine. Also, remember that you are sewing with the needle pointing out to the edge of the fabric.

The direction of sewing: I find it easiest to stitch from left to right but you might prefer sewing in the opposite direction.

First Blanket Stitch
First Blanket Stitch

Pull tight and you have your first blanket stitch. See how the thread forms an attractive border along the edge.

First Blanket Stitch
First Blanket Stitch

Step 4 - Repeat

Continue this same step – needle down from top to bottom with the thread caught in underneath.

Repeat Blanket Stitch
Repeat Blanket Stitch

What will you be sewing now you know how to do blanket stitch?

Blanket Stitch
Blanket Stitch

TIP - Want perfectly even stitches? Use your ruler to mark the stitch lengths. Try ΒΌ inch (6mm) to Β½ inch (12mm). Alternatively, put marks on your finger and hold it next to your stitching.

Blanket Stitch - Corners

Sewing a corner with a blanket stitch is easy.

Step 1 - First Side

Just sew normally until one stitch before the corner. You may need to plan ahead and adjust the spacing slightly as you get close to the corner.

Step 2 - The Corner

Then go into the bottom of the last stitch and come out diagonally into the corner at a 45-degree angle.

corners with blanket stitch
Corner with Blanket Stitch

To complete the corner, go back into the bottom of the same stitch and pull the thread at a 90-degree angle. See below how there are 3 stitches all going into the same hole at the corner.

Now you can keep stitching the next side as per normal.

corners with blanket stitch
Sewing a Corner with Blanket Stitch

Blanket stitch - Changing Threads

Blanket stitch uses a lot of thread so you will be changing quite often. It is important that you do so by hiding the knots.

I have changed color here so you can easily identify the new thread but this technique works even if you are sticking to the same color thread.

Step 1 - Finish First Thread

First knot off the last stitch. You can do this by putting the needle through the fabric close to the edge and then before you pull the thread tight, put the needle through the loop. Pull tight.

Changing thread with blanket stitch
Knot off the End

After knotting off, pull the thread ends down so it will be hidden by the second piece of fabric.

Changing thread with blanket stitch
Cut the End and Hide in the Middle of the Fabric

Step 2 - New Thread

With your new thread already knotted at the end, take a small stitch through the underneath fabric.

Changing thread with blanket stitch
Hide the Knot

Put the two pieces of fabric back together and there is the new thread ready to keep sewing as you were previously.

Changing thread with blanket stitch
Changing Color Threads

Here is my finished sample complete with straight stitches, a corner, and a change of color!

Blanket stitch
Blanket Stitch Corners and Changing Thread

Blanket Stitch - Applique

A blanket stitch can be used to create beautiful edges on applique. The thread lined along the edge of your cut-out piece additionally helps prevent fraying.

If you will be appliqueing woven fabric that is thin or that easily frays, try adding some interfacing to add body. I like using double-sided interfacing to not only give stability but to hold your shape in place so it doesn't move while you are sewing.

The technique is almost identical to sewing two pieces of fabric together.

Step 1 - Hide the Knot

Start by hiding the thread knot in between the 2 layers. Insert the needle underneath the top fabric to the top.

applique blanket stitch
Hide the Knot

Step 2 - First Stitch

Next, we need to create the first stitch in a similar fashion to sewing the 2 pieces of fabric together.

Brind the needle up between the 2 layers to the top. Gently pull until there is a loop. Put the needle through the loop and pull out towards the edge of the applique.

applique blanket stitch
First Starter Stitch

This is the first starter stitch that anchors the stitching. See how the thread is pulled to the outside of the applique. Don't pull the thread towards the inside of the applique.

applique blanket stitch
Starter Stitch on Blanket Stitch Applique

Step 3 - Blanket Stitch

Now we start sewing the actual blanket stitch.

Pass the needle from point 1 and come out at point 2. Notice that point 2 is on the edge of the applique. Pass the thread underneath the point of the needle.

applique blanket stitch
Blanket Stitch for Applique

Pull the needle and thread towards the outside of the applique to tighten the stitch.

Now repeat to get a row of beautifully formed blanket stitches.

The most important thing is to remember the direction the needle is moving. It always inserts on the applique and the tip exits on the edge of the applique with the thread around the tip.

Refer back to the above photo if you need to 1-2-thread under-1-2-tread under.

applique blanket stitch
Applique Blanket Stitch

Here is our finished blanket stitch applique. The same techniques can be used to change threads and turn corners.

blanket stitch, how to do blanket stitch applique
Applique Blanket Stitch

Blanket Stitch for Hems

The blanket stitch can be used as an attractive hem finish. In the photo below you can see that it looks great on both the front and back of the finished hem. This is why it is popular for blanket edgings.

  • Press or fold the hem either double or single. Items such as blankets made from polar fleece may have just a single fold since the edge does not fray.
  • On the wrong side, take the needle down through the hem to the bottom fold.
  • Make sure the thread is under the tip of the needle.
  • Pull through.
  • Move along and repeat for the next stitch.
  • Read more hemming stitches.
Blanket Used as a Hemming Stitch
Blanket Used as a Hemming Stitch

Blanket Stitch Projects

Now you know how to do blanket stitch, try it on myΒ free felt pincushion pattern. Blanket stitch makes an attractive border around the top and bottom of the pincushion. Use a thicker contrasting stitch for a trendy handmade look.

Pin Cushion Pattern

If you are looking to make a baby blanket, you could do a blanket stitch around the edges for a pretty contrasting look. This tutorial will show you how to make the baby blanket in 4 different sizes.

More Hand Stitching Articles

  • 6 Basic Hand Stitches
  • How to Sew a Seam by Hand – Running Stitch and Backstitch
  • How to Sew Whip Stitch
  • Running Stitch
  • How to Backstitch
  • How to Do Blanket Stitch
  • Satin Stitch
  • How to Sew a Ladder Stitch for an Invisible Closure
  • How to thread a needle
  • Needle threader

4.9/5 - (34 votes)

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  • What is Embroidery & What to Do with Embroidery
  • Long and Short Stitch (Brick Stitch) - Easy Tutorial

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Treasurie

    April 13, 2022 at 6:21 am

    I always use 6 threads of embroidery floss in my samples as it photographs the best. For blankets, 6 works well but use 3 for most embroidery projects.

  2. Diana

    April 07, 2022 at 8:03 pm

    How many threads did you use in your example?

  3. Judi

    November 08, 2021 at 1:39 am

    Very educational and the demo is at a steady pace to follow, job well done.
    πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»

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