Blanket stitch may have traditionally been used to finish the edge of blankets, but the truth is that it’s useful for so much more! From hems to borders to applique to decorative shapes and textures, this is one of the most versatile embroidery stitches.
Blanket Stitch can be worked in straight rows, around curves, doubled up, crossed, twisted, and on and on. This tutorial covers the steps for blanket stitch along with six variations that take the basic stitch to the next level.
Blanket Stitch Step-By-Step
Blanket stitch can be worked in any direction. For this tutorial, we will be working from left to right using two horizontal lines as a guide. Start by bringing the needle out at the far side of the top line (Point A). Move over one stitch length and take the needle in on the bottom line (Point B) and back out on the top line (Point C). Keep the working thread looped behind the needle.
Pull the needle through to complete the first stitch. I find it helpful to keep a finger on the working thread as I pull the needle through so it remains in place while staying taught.
* A quick note on the “sewing” vs. “stabbing” method *
The method demonstrated above is the “sewing” method where the needle is woven in and out of the fabric. You can just as easily make this stitch using the “stabbing” method by putting the needle in at point B, pulling it all the way through, and then bringing it back out at point C. I often find the stabbing method easier when working on a project where the fabric is pulled tight in an embroidery hoop.
Use the same steps to make the second stitch. Move one stitch length away and insert the needle in at point D and out at point E. Always remember to keep the working thread under the needle before completing the stitch.
Continue stitching until you reach the desired length. End the stitch by bringing the needle down and through the fabric next to the top of the last stitch.
Blanket Stitch Long & Short
Perhaps the easiest of the blanket stitch variations is Long & Short. Just as it sounds, this version of the stitch features long and short stitches in varying lengths. There are no rules regarding stitch length so have fun with it and get creative! This version uses the same steps as the classic blanket except not all the stitches will reach the bottom line.
Double Blanket Stitch
Double blanket is a variation where a second row of stitching is made between the first. You can use the same color thread, or add some pizzaz with a contrasting color.
Start by making a row of blanket stitch. Next, flip the stitching upside down and start another row with the stitches placed between the previous row.
Whipped Blanket Stitch
This super-simple variation adds an extra layer of color to the basic stitch. Start with a row of blanket stitch. Choose a contrasting color thread and bring the needle up on the top left side. Without going through the fabric, weave the new color thread over and under the top line of stitching.
Closed Blanket Stitch
Closed blanket stitch takes the basic stitch and turns it into a row of triangles connected by a shared line.
Start with two parallel lines and begin the first stitch on the left side of the top line. Follow the same format as for the basic stitch – out at point A, in at point B, and back out at point C. The key difference from the classic stitch is that the line between B and C is diagonal instead of straight. Complete the first step by looping the working thread behind the needle and pulling it all the way through.
Begin the second stitch at point B and bring the needle back out at point D. Again, make the line between B and D diagonal.
You have now closed the stitch and created your first triangle shape. Start the next closed stitch with another diagonal stitch from point E to point F. The idea is to mirror the angle of the stitch from B to C as closely as possible. This ensures that the row of triangles are similar in shape. Next, close this series of stitches by inserting the needle back in through point E and creating another diagonal line. Keep stitching in this manner until you reach the desired length.
Crossed Blanket Stitch
This is another variation that uses diagonal stitches to create an interesting pattern. This time, instead of closing the stitches, we will be crossing them to form a series of connected diamonds. The first stitch follows the same steps as for closed blanket. Start at point A, come out at point B, and go back in at point C. The line between B and C is diagonal.
Next, move the needle to the left side of point B and make another diagonal stitch up to point E. This stitch will cross over the previous stitch.
Start the third stitch at point F and make a diagonal stitch up to point G. Just like with the closed blanket stitch, try to keep the angle of the diagonal stitches similar to give the crosses a uniform appearance.
Finish this pair of crossed stitches by moving the needle back to point B and making a diagonal stitch from there up to point H.
Start a new pair of crossed stitches by moving to the left of point F and making a diagonal stitch up to the top line. Continue this series of stitches until you reach the desired length.
Blanket Scallop Stitch
Finally, we come to the last blanket stitch variation in this tutorial. At first glance, blanket scallops appear to have little in common with the rest of the blanket family, but upon closer inspection, you will see that this decorative edging or outline stitch is actually composed of tiny blanket stitches.
This stitch requires knowledge of running stitch which you will find in the Basic Line Stitches Tutorial. Start by making a series of scallop shapes with running stitch.
Next, starting at one end of the running stitch, make a row of blanket stitch over the top. Keep the stitches short so they lie just on either side of the running stitch.
Follow the curves closely and keep the stitches close together. Note that you can make this stitch in any direction, but the solid line (top of the blanket stitches) will always lie at the top. Depending on if you want the line on the top or bottom of the scallops, you may want to rotate the running stitch before stitching over it. For this example, I wanted the top line to be on the outer curved edge of the scallops so I flipped it and started my stitching with the scallops in the correct direction.
Despite the name, the blanket scallops are suitable for more than just scallop shapes. Use this stitch as a border for any curved shape, including a circle.
Blanket Stitch Pinwheel Tutorial
Want to learn more blanket stitch variations? How about these cool pinwheels?
Blanket Pinwheel Embroidery Tutorial
Blanket Stitch Embroidery Patterns
Put your new stitching skills to use with this bright and colorful fall pattern:
Happy Stitching!
FAQs
What are the variations of the embroidery blanket stitch? ›
A few of the better known and more widely used variations of the buttonhole and blanket stitches include the closed (Figure 3), open (Figure 4), knotted (also known as knot or Antwerp edging, Figure 5), crossed (Figure 6), buttonhole wheel (Figure 7), double (great for couching, Figure 8) and detached (Figure 9).
What are the 6 type of embroidery? ›Hence, even in India, there are many embroidery designs which originated like Zardosi, Phulkari, Chikankari, Kantha, Kashidakari and many others. All of these are hand embroidery designs and many of them are trending today too.
How many threads do you use for blanket stitch? ›Blanket stitching can be done with yarn, 6 strand embroidery floss, pearl cotton, and many other threads. Basically, the thicker and heavier the fabric you are using, the thicker the thread and the larger the needle you will be using to blanket stitch.
Which stitch is known as blanket stitch? ›The blanket stitch is a stitch used to reinforce the edge of thick materials. Depending on circumstances, it may also be called a cable stitch or a crochet stitch. It is "a decorative stitch used to finish an unhemmed blanket. The stitch can be seen on both sides of the blanket."
How do you embroider with 6 strands? ›Cut a piece of embroidery floss twice as long as you normally would. Split the thread in half, and take 3 strands. Next, take your needle (size 3 is recommended when using 6 strands of floss), and thread 3 strands through the eye. Pull both ends of the thread, make them even, and move your needle to the other end.
What is the hardest embroidery stitch? ›Drumroll please...the most difficult stitch in needlework; the raised stem stitch.
What is the easiest embroidery? ›Of all the basic embroidery stitches, running stitch is the easiest to master. This quick stitch is perfect for borders and outlines. You can change the look by lengthening or shortening the stitches. Start by making a single stitch.
How do you do a blanket stitch evenly? ›- With a marker, turn your thumb into a ruler.
- Make marks ¼” or ⅜” apart.
- Hold your thumb at the same level to get even stitches every time.
- Stitch up through the top loop front to back to get a straight line across the top.
A single strand of the embroidery floss is often used for a more refined embroidery like the ones using the Satin Stitch. The fewer the strands, the more delicate and flat the stitching will be. Six Strands of the embroidery floss are used for a chunkier or embossed outcome.
What is the best thread for a blanket stitch? ›When doing a blanket stitch, it's best to use embroidery thread or yarn, since this is a decorative stitch and the thicker thread stands out more.
How many stitches is a chunky blanket? ›
How many stitches do you need for a Chunky Blanket? You start by casting on just 50 stitches while holding two strands of yarn together. Use a circular knitting needle, but make sure to knit back and forth and not in the round. Find the written Row by row Chunky Knit Blanket Pattern at the end of this post.
How to do double blanket stitch? ›Double blanket is a variation where a second row of stitching is made between the first. You can use the same color thread, or add some pizzaz with a contrasting color. Start by making a row of blanket stitch. Next, flip the stitching upside down and start another row with the stitches placed between the previous row.
How do you make a simple blanket? ›How Do You Make a Simple Blanket? The simplest way to make a blanket, is to take two pieces of fabric, sew them right-sides-together, turn it right side out, and sew the opening closed. Check out my post on how to make a blanket for a baby that can be made larger for a child or adult.
What is the first stitch called? ›While many of you may already know what a slip knot is and how to make one, I want to make sure you all know by giving you a very easy knitting lesson. So the slipknot is also called a running knot and a slip loop and they have hundreds of uses besides when you begin knitting.
Is a whip stitch a blanket stitch? ›Whip stitch, blanket stitch, and running stitch are stitches that help finish edges. While whip stitch almost disappears, blanket stitch creates a decorative look.
What is the disadvantage of blanket stitch? ›Drawbacks : When using blanket stitch to sew together stuffies, it becomes a ridged seam that is equal to the depth of your stitch. This creates ridges in 3-D stuffies that might look weird and distort the stuffie's shape.
What size needle for 6 strand embroidery? ›Size 3 needles are good for when you are using all 6 strands of floss and the smaller sizes (up to size 9) are good for embroidering with 1-2 strands of thread.
How do you embroider an odd number of strands? ›If you are going to embroider with an odd number, use the loose tail method. Cut twice as much thread as you would normally use. Separate the floss. The amount of threads is half of what you would normally use: if you want stitches with 2 threads, use 1 thread, if you want to stitch with 4 threads, use 2 threads etc.
How many strands should I embroider with? ›If you want a bold line that can still manage decent detail, start with three strands. If you want a finer line that's still easily visible, try two strands. If you want a very fine line for delicate detail, one strand will do it!
What is the oldest embroidery stitch? ›Cross stitch, the oldest form embroidery of that has been around for ages, is one of the easiest forms of counted thread hand embroidery. It is comprised of X-shaped stitches done on fabric with an even and open weave like aida cloth, linen or other even weave fabrics.
What is forbidden stitch embroidery? ›
The forbidden stitch, when done by an expert embroiderer, resembles a tiny circle dimpled at the center, formed by winding the thread around an embroidery needle a few times before plunging the needle through the middle of the coil and through the fabric.
What is the most used stitch? ›The straight stitch is the most common stitch because of its simplicity. This type of stitch is used in nearly everything. It includes an up and down passage of the needle through the fabric, securing two pieces of fabric together.
What are the 3 special kinds of embroidery? ›This guide introduces some of the most common embroidery styles found in our collections, divided into three main types: counted-thread, freestyle and whitework.
What is the most popular embroidery? ›Polo shirts and button ups are, undoubtedly, among the most popular embroidered items. In fact, they'll never go out of style because every local business or school needs it. Click here to watch a video on how to get perfect placement on shirts.
How far from the edge should your blanket stitch be? ›Thread your needle and knot the tail end. Start between the two layers and poke your needle down through the bottom layer. This will put your knot in between the two layers. This should be done about 1/4" in from the edge, or at whatever length you want your stitches to be.
How do you change the color of a 10 stitch blanket? ›To change color with a clean color break, start your new color in the first row of a mitered corner. Instead of slipping the last stitch in the first row of the mitered corner, knit all the way across. Then work the rest of the corner as written.
Does blanket stitch stop fraying? ›A blanket stitch is typically used to reinforce the edges on a project - because of the way this stitch is sewn, it keeps edges from fraying or stretching out of shape.
Do you tie both ends of embroidery thread? ›Take your 2 strands together, and snip one end - the needle will thread more easily with clean ends! Thread your needle, then tie 2 small knots in the longer end of thread. Snip the end after the knot, to stop it accidentally pulling through while you're stitching.
How do I start a new thread in embroidery? ›Start With A Holding Stitch
To begin the holding stitch, knot your thread. Stitch 1 – Bring the needle down through the fabric from the surface to the back of the fabric. Leave the knot where it is. TIP: When stitching a straight line, place the knot approximately 1cm away from where you will start your embroidery.
Six strands - Sometimes you want maximum bulk and to retain the embroidery floss look, in which case all 6 strands can be used. A longer length of three strands can be doubled if you want to stitch with 6 strands but don't want as much bulk at the eye of the needle.
How do you calculate thread count for embroidery? ›
Count the threads between the original pin and the second pin. If there are 36 threads, then it has a thread count of 36. If there are 25 threads, then the fabric is 25 count. Count the threads between the original pin and the third pin.
How do you keep embroidery strands together? ›Knot the end of the thread and take your needle from the front to the back about 1” or so from your starting point (and on the line to be stitched). Bring the needle up to the front at the starting point. Start stitching towards the knot, being sure to cross over the thread on the back with each stitch to secure it.
What size thread is best for embroidery? ›The most popular size is a #8 as it is the perfect weight to comfortably do pretty much every hand embroidery stitch.
What brand is best for thread? ›The two most common thread brands are Coats & Clark (also just labeled as Coats) and Gütermann. These are the two brands I bought when I started to sew and they are the brands I still buy today. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Coats & Clark. The company has been around for 200 years.
What is the best all purpose thread? ›- Gutermann All Purpose Thread Set. Check Prices Here. ...
- Singer All-Purpose Thread. ...
- Aurifil 50wt Thread. ...
- Connecting Threads 100% Cotton Thread. ...
- Coats and Clark Surelock Overlock Thread. ...
- New brothread Embroidery Thread. ...
- New brothread Metallic Embroidery Thread. ...
- Mettler Variegated Cotton Thread.
Large throw blankets come in sizes 50x70 inches (130x170 cm) and 60x80 inches (150x200 cm). These sizes are perfect as a throw for a Queen bed or blanket for a double bed. King size blanket is our biggest one and it's so big and chunky that you can almost get lost in it.
How many stitches across is a queen blanket? ›Using the stitch count table, you pick the queen size blanket column and read down, then read across the row for 16 stitches. So you would need 360 stitches to achieve your blanket width.
What is the difference between whip stitch and blanket stitch? ›Whip stitch, blanket stitch, and running stitch are stitches that help finish edges. While whip stitch almost disappears, blanket stitch creates a decorative look. Thank you for reading!
What is a double blanket stitch? ›Double blanket is a variation where a second row of stitching is made between the first. You can use the same color thread, or add some pizzaz with a contrasting color. Start by making a row of blanket stitch. Next, flip the stitching upside down and start another row with the stitches placed between the previous row.
What is Irish stitch? ›The Irish Mesh Knitting Stitch is a fun, simple all over lace pattern stitch with a little structure and chunkiness to it. Its easy 4 row repeat is simple to remember and easy to integrate into a blanket, shawl or scarf pattern adding dimension and depth to your garments.
What is Aida embroidery? ›
Aida cloth (sometimes called Java canvas) is an open, even-weave fabric traditionally used for cross-stitch embroidery. This cotton fabric has a natural mesh that facilitates cross-stitching and enough natural stiffness that the crafter does not need to use an embroidery hoop.
What is velvet stitch? ›The velvet stitch, consisting of a cross-stitch and a loop, is a counted-thread stitch most often used in canvas work. Deanna Hall West May 16, 2019 - 6 min read. The velvet stitch, consisting of a cross-stitch and a loop, is a counted-thread stitch most often used in canvas work.
What stitch is best for heavy fabric? ›Use a longer stitch.
The standard stitch length is 2.5 mm, but a 3.5 mm-length stitch is the best for heavier fabrics. You can go higher if your material is heavy or when using multiple layers of fabric. If using longer stitches doesn't work, you can use a small zig-zag stitch.
A backstitch is one of the strongest hand sewing stitches. The backstitch gets its name because the needle goes into the fabric behind the previous stitch. On the contrary, with a running stitch, the needle simply passes through the fabric an even distance in front of the previous stitch.