Blanket stitch - great for applique and decorative impact

The Old Button Play On The Go © Play Scenes - Safai Zoo

What is blanket stitch

Blanket stitch is an edging stitch, traditionally used to finish the edges of woollen blankets (or other woven items) to stop them unravelling.  Sewn in a connected row, the stitch forms neat 3 sides boxes, with the effect of "down" side stitches connected by "top" stitches, but they are formed by looping the thread in a continuous stitch.   

 

When used as an edging stitch, it wraps itself around the edge, with down stitches showing at the front and the back, and the top showing across the outside edge. 

 

 

The Old Button felt flower brooch

Securing applique

As it can be eased around curves and used on angles of any shape, including internal ones, blanket stitch is also great for securing applique patches. 

I use it a lot with felt, but it also works well on cotton or wool fabrics too as where it has the added benefit of catching in any fraying threads.

 The Old Button heart and mini patchwork pictures using upcycled Welsh wool blanket scraps

Decorative impact

I use blanket stitch a lot on my hand embroidered playmats* and fabric pictures. It is a very versatile stitch, and you vary stitch size and colour contract to create different effects. 

In the woodland scene below, the smallish size of the stitches and the similarity to the thread and felt colours subtly emphasise the outline of the felt tree, owl and toadstool, but aren't the main impact. 

The Old Button Play On The Go © Play Scenes - Fairy Woodland

But in this sea scene, I used larger stitches and chose thread that was lighter or darker than the felt to make the motifs stand out and give layered depth to the picture. On the green seaweed fronds I made the side stitches a little longer than the top stitch and partly interlaced some of them to create a stripy, wavy effect. 

The Old Button Play On The Go © Play Scenes - Under the Sea

Have a go - links to tutorial and kits

I hope this inspires you have have a go yourself.  If you would like to learn how to do blanket stitch, I have a mini tutorial, including how to do corners and curves. 

I also have an  Embroidery 101 - with a useful guide to starting embroidery, complete with useful hints and tips for all stitches, and a glossary of embroidery stitches with links to more mini-tutorials.

If you are looking for small "sew it yourself" craft kits that feature embroidery in applique, I have just launched a range on my Etsy and Folksy shops. There are only a few at the moment but I hope to develop more over the next year.   

 

Please respect my design and copyright © - I would be delighted if you use my creations as inspiration for your own ideas, but don't copy them directly. 

 * Appliqued motifs in my playmats are also machine stitched for extra durability and to conform to UK toy safety standards.