Blanket stitch is most frequently used as an edging stitch because when stitched carefully it can look identical on both the right and wrong side. It is normally used on fabrics that don’t fray very much such as felt or blankets. As an edging stitch it can be the foundation for a further decoration such as a crochet border. It can also be worked flat as a decorative stitch.

• Start by pushing the needle from the back to the front of the fabric, then bring the needle over the top of the edge and through the fabric from back to front again (A)

• Bring the needle through the same hole (A) from back to front. Pass the needle under the thread from the first stitch

• Bring the needle through the fabric (B) from back to front.

• There will be a little loop lying on the top edge of the fabric. Pass the needle under this loop (C)

• Repeat the action of taking the needle over the top of the edge and push from back to front, catching the loop each time. You will start to see a bar of thread over the edge.

• For the neatest blanket stitch look at where you are pushing the needle through from the back as well as where it appears at the front.

As well as a flat edge, blanket stitch can also be used on a soft sculpture to join different pieces. To get the neatest finish I find that stitching the stitches the same distance apart as depth from the edge eg 2mm down from the edge and stitches 2mm apart.

Want to try this stitch? It’s suggested as part of the embellished bauble kit that is available at Christmas.

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