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Watch the video: “How to Blanket Stitch an Appliqué” by RokoleeDIY
A simple, sturdy edge and a decorative finish—blanket stitch gives you both. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, you’ll attach a felt appliqué to a felt backing using a clean, repeatable method that looks as good as it holds.
What you’ll learn
- Choosing non-fraying fabrics and visible thread so your stitches stand out cleanly.
- How to start the first stitch so the knot stays hidden on the back.
- A repeatable motion to stitch around curves with even spacing.
- How to plan the last few stitches and secure the thread neatly on the back.
Understanding Blanket Stitch Appliqué
What is Blanket Stitch? Blanket stitch is a decorative edge stitch that also secures one fabric layer to another. In this tutorial, it’s used to attach a small felt shape to a felt backing—creating a tidy, visible border around the appliqué’s edge.
Why Use it for Appliqué? Because the thread sits along the edge, blanket stitch frames your appliqué with a consistent decorative line. This makes it ideal when you want the seam to show as a design element. You can keep spacing equal to your stitch length for a classic look, or place stitches closer together for a denser border.
Choosing Your Materials The video uses felt-on-felt, which is a great starting point because felt and fleece don’t fray. The presenter recommends a visible thread (embroidery floss is most popular) and an embroidery needle for easy handling. If your appliqué is small and flat, you can simply hold it in place—larger or awkward shapes may be pinned or secured with temporary adhesive during stitching. embroidery machine for beginners
Getting Started: Preparation is Key
Selecting Fabric & Thread Pick a non-fraying appliqué fabric such as felt or fleece, and choose a backing fabric of similar stability. For thread, embroidery floss or a size 8 cotton (the creator referenced “Anchor Pearl Thread” in the comments) works well because it’s visible and decorative. Aim for a thread length at least five times the edge you plan to stitch so you don’t run short halfway.
Pro tip If you want your stitches to pop, pick a thread color that contrasts with your appliqué. If you want them to blend, choose a near-match.
Needle and Threading Tie a knot at one end of your thread, then thread the other end through your embroidery needle. This keeps the knot on the back once you begin stitching. The video demonstrates holding the felt in the hand for a small shape—no hoop required for felt.
Watch out Some embroiderers avoid knots on thin fabrics to prevent show-through. For felt and fleece, a small knot is generally fine because the material is dense.
Securing Your Appliqué Piece Position the appliqué where you want it. For anything larger or asymmetrical, use pins or a removable fabric adhesive so the edges stay flat and aligned. The video example is a small oval felt piece held by hand—simple, fast, and stable.
Step-by-Step Guide to Blanket Stitch
Making Your First Stitch
- Decide your stitch length: the creator suggests about a quarter of an inch (roughly 5 mm). Consistency is key.
- Bring the needle from the back to the front of the backing fabric, emerging right beside the appliqué’s edge. This hides the knot on the back.
- Pass the needle down through both layers (appliqué and backing) at your chosen distance from the edge, which establishes the vertical length of the stitch.
- Angle the needle so it re-emerges near the first exit point, creating an open loop on the surface.
- Leave a small loop, pass your needle through it (anti-clockwise if you’re stitching clockwise), and then tighten carefully so the stitch lies straight.
Quick check As you tighten, hold the thread directly above the stitch—this helps control exactly where it sits and keeps the edge line crisp.
Consistent Stitching Around Curves The video shows a circle: each stitch radiates towards the center point. That’s your mental guide—point the stitch lines toward the circle’s middle to keep the border even. Repeat the same sequence: down through both layers at your set distance, bring the needle out right next to the appliqué’s edge, leave a loop, pass through the loop, and tighten.
From the comments A viewer asked whether you pass through the loop every time. The creator confirmed: yes, every stitch goes through the loop—sometimes it may look automatic because the thread falls into place.
Tips for Even Spacing
- Keep the distance between stitches equal to your stitch length for a classic blanket stitch look. If you prefer a denser edge, bring them closer together.
- Use your needle to nudge the thread into line if it shifts while tightening.
- As you approach the end, pre-plan how many stitches remain so you don’t end up squeezing or stretching the last two.
Watch out Curves can magnify small inconsistencies. If things look off, adjust your spacing slightly a few stitches before the end—tiny changes can make a big visual difference.
Troubleshooting Common Blanket Stitch Issues
Uneven Stitches
- Symptom: One stitch looks longer or shorter than the next.
- Fix: Visually measure the distance from the edge before each insertion. If you notice things drifting, adjust one or two stitches earlier rather than trying to fix it at the very end.
- Tip: Use the needle tip as a mini “ruler” to estimate the distance from the edge each time.
Loose or Tight Thread
- Symptom: Stitches look slack or pucker the fabric.
- Fix: Tighten until the thread sits flat on the edge—no slack, no pulling. Holding the thread straight above the stitch as you snug it helps maintain alignment and tension.
- Tip: If the thread twists, drop the needle briefly and let it untwist, then continue.
From the comments A viewer wanted an “invisible” look for jeans patches. The creator noted there is a stitch called the invisible stitch, but for patches, a whip stitch in matching thread usually blends well. Blanket stitch is decorative by design, so if you want it to disappear, choose a different technique or a matching thread color.
Finishing Your Appliqué Masterpiece
Securing the Final Thread When you reach the starting point, go over the first stitch again: take the needle into and out of the felt at the exact same points to reinforce that spot and complete your final blanket stitch. Then pass the needle down through the backing as close to the appliqué as possible—ensure the needle travels inside the thread that sits along the edge, not outside it.
On the back, tuck the needle under a couple of threads, pull until you have a small loop, pass the needle through the loop, and tighten to form a knot. Repeat once for a secure finish.
Trimming Excess Use scissors to trim the thread close to the knot on the back. The front should look seamless, with your last stitch blending into your first.
Quick check If you can’t tell where you started and ended from the front, you nailed the finish.
Creative Uses for Blanket Stitch Appliqué
Home Decor Ideas Try felt shapes on coasters, garlands, or wall pennants. Because felt doesn’t fray, it’s a stress-free way to practice while making charming accents.
Clothing Embellishments Add patches or appliqués to hoodies, totes, or kidwear—a viewer noted using the tutorial to attach a punk rock patch to a hoodie with confidence.
Personalized Gifts Initials, icons, and seasonal shapes make quick, meaningful gifts. Keep thread colors bold for a graphic look or tone-on-tone for subtlety. magnetic embroidery hoop
From the comments: Helpful Nuggets
- Timing tip: One commenter noted the stitching demonstration starts around 1:34 if you want to jump straight to action.
- Left-handed awareness: Another viewer found success after remembering to mirror the motions for left-handed stitching.
- Testing first: If you’re unsure how many strands of floss to use on cotton, test on a scrap of your actual fabric. In the comments, the creator suggested around three strands for a cotton appliqué scenario, but emphasized testing.
Hand vs. Machine Sidebar This tutorial is all about hand sewing—slow, precise, and with a hallmark decorative edge. If you also do machine embroidery, blanket-style edges can be mimicked with programmed stitches or satin borders in your digitized designs. For those exploring equipment, it’s worth learning where different tools fit:
- Hand blanket stitch shines on felt crafts, one-off patches, or when you want tactile, visible texture.
- Machine embroidery excels at volume, symmetry, and repeatability—especially for identical motifs.
If you’re mixing hand appliqué with machine embellishment (say, sewing a blanket stitch by hand and then adding monograms by machine), you might find advanced hooping accessories useful for your other projects, particularly if you switch between garments and small blanks. magnetic embroidery hoops
Tool Talk: When You Also Stitch by Machine While you won’t need a hoop for felt in this hand-sewn project, some readers keep a foot in both worlds. If your creative routine includes machine embroidery on knits, caps, or bags, you may prefer frames and accessories designed to reduce fabric distortion and speed setup. Some makers like the convenience of accessories that grip fabric firmly and release quickly for re-hooping multiple pieces. magnetic embroidery frames
Choosing Accessories Thoughtfully
- Stability: Look for frames that hold fabric evenly so stitch density stays consistent across your design.
- Speed: Quick clamp-and-go systems can help when you’re running a batch of small appliqués or patches by machine.
- Project match: Large garments versus small felt shapes call for different approaches; keep a few frame sizes on hand for flexibility. best magnetic embroidery hoops
If you do lots of patches, you might also explore specialized accessories that simplify repetitive hooping workflows. Makers who frequently swap between tees and sweatshirts sometimes keep a favorite frame ready for each fabric weight to keep production smooth. mighty hoop
And if you regularly align decorative borders or layered appliqués on machine projects, look into frame options that give a bit of extra holding power for slippery synthetics—especially when you’re placing pieces near edges or seams. magnetic hoops for embroidery
Finally, if you’re experimenting with thick items or unusual placements, check whether your preferred accessory line offers a larger, easy-open frame that makes positioning less fiddly. That can be handy when your design needs a precise border that echoes the clean look you just learned by hand. snap hoop monster
Wrap-Up With a visible thread, an embroidery needle, and a steady sequence—up beside the edge, down through both layers, through the loop, tighten—you can appliqué felt shapes cleanly and confidently. Remember the circle rule (aim stitches at the center), keep spacing consistent, and plan your final few stitches before you reach the start point again. Reinforce the first stitch, secure knots on the back, trim, and you’re done.
Once you’re comfortable with felt, try denser spacing for a bolder edge, or switch to a thinner thread and a closer color match for subtlety. Whether you keep it purely hand-made or mix in a little machine magic elsewhere in your projects, this foundational stitch will keep paying off in neat edges and polished finishes.