How to Sew a Blanket Stitch – A Beginners Sewing Guide

This blanket stitch tutorial covers one of the most useful basic sewing stitches. It’s great for closing up felt projects and holding material inside, which is why you will often see it used for 3D crafts such as felt animals, felt toys and decorations.

You can also use the blanket stitch on flat felt projects, blankets and even some clothing projects. One of the great things about this stitch is that you can customise it to suit your project by changing the thread colour, thickness and stitch size.

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For this tutorial, I have used two white squares of felt which will be stitched together around the edge using a blanket stitch. I’ll show you how to start the stitch, sew neat corners, finish the stitch and what to do if your thread breaks or runs out.

So let’s get started! Here’s what you’ll need.

Step 1. Prepare Your Felt Pieces

Choose your felt and cut out two identical shapes. You can pin the two pieces of felt together before cutting to help ensure they are exactly the same shape. Once cut, place the two felt pieces directly on top of each other ready for stitching.

Step 2. Prepare Your Embroidery Thread

Choose your embroidery floss and decide on the colour and thickness you would like to use.

Embroidery floss is usually made up of six strands. You can use all six strands together, or separate them and use fewer strands depending on how bold you want your blanket stitch to appear. In this tutorial, I have used three strands. The thicker the thread, the more noticeable the blanket stitch will be.

Make sure you have enough thread for your project, but don’t worry if you run out. Further down this post, I’ll show you how to continue with a new thread if it breaks or runs out.

Thread your needle and tie several knots (in one place) at the end of the floss to create a large knot. This will stop the thread from pulling back through the felt.

Step 3. Start the Blanket Stitch

Decide where you would like your first stitch to sit. Try to keep your stitches an even distance from the edge and evenly spaced for a neat finish.

To begin the blanket stitch, push the needle through the back of the first felt piece near the edge and bring it out through the front, as shown in the photograph below. This allows the knot to be hidden between the two layers of felt.

Ensure this stitch is exactly where you want it, as it will determine how far the blanket stitch sits from the edge. I’ve aimed for approximately 7.5mm from the edge in this example.

Pull the thread through until the knot sits firmly against the felt. This is a good opportunity to check that the knot is large enough to stop the thread pulling through.

Next, stitch through both felt layers from the back and return through the original hole. This creates the secure starting stitch that the blanket stitch will be worked from.

Step 4. Sew Your First Blanket Stitch

From the front, pass the needle underneath the initial loop from your right to left.

Move along slightly to create your next stitch. Try to keep the spacing consistent for a neat and uniform appearance. Push the needle through the front of both felt layers and out through the back of both felt layers which will create another loop.

Before tightening the stitch, pass the needle underneath the new loop from right to left. Pull the thread tight and you will have created your first blanket stitch! 🙂

Step 5. Continue Sewing the Blanket Stitch

Carry on sewing in the same way to create a blanket stitch along the edge of the felt.

Try to keep each stitch the same distance from the edge and evenly spaced as you work around the shape. This will help your finished blanket stitch look neat and consistent. Continue sewing until you reach a corner.

Step 6. How to Sew a Blanket Stitch Around a Corner

When you reach a corner, ensure to place the stitch the same distance from both edges. Pass the needle through the same corner stitch and catch the loop so that the thread finishes neatly on the corner point.

Repeat this in the same corner hole before starting the first stitch on the new side. This creates a neat square corner. Continue stitching along the next side as before and repeat this process for each corner.

Step 7. Finish the Blanket Stitch

When you get back to where you started, complete the final corner stitch as normal with the final corner stitch. The final stitch should go over the first initial stitch so you will have two vertical stitches.

Loop the thread through the first starting stitch and make a small knot at the top edge to secure it.

For a neat finish, cut off most of the remaining thread, leaving around 12cm. Push the needle between the two felt pieces and back out through the felt anywhere and cut the thread as close to the material as possible. This hides the end of the thread inside the project.

How to Fix a Broken Thread During a Blanket Stitch

Don’t worry if your thread breaks or runs out. This can happen, especially on larger projects.

To fix it, tie the old thread and the new thread together between the two felt layers. Make sure there is enough thread to make the next loop. Carry on sewing the blanket stitch as normal.

Final Thoughts

Blanket stitch is one of the most useful hand sewing stitches for felt crafts because it joins two pieces together while creating a decorative edge. Once you have mastered the basic technique, you can use it for felt ornaments, soft toys, appliqué projects, decorations and even blankets.

This is a really easy and satisfying stitch once you get into the rhythm, and it’s so useful for many different projects. I hope this tutorial is helpful and inspires you to create lots of projects using blanket stitch.

I’d love to see what you create, so please share this post, leave a comment with your results, or get in touch via my contact form if you have any questions.

If you’re looking for a blanket stitch project, take a look at my Felt Christmas Tree Earrings Tutorial.

Happy blanket stitching!

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