How to Do a Whip Stitch in Quilting

Whipstitch fabrics together when you make a quilt.

When you construct quilts, your work will probably involve both machine and hand stitching to piece the fabrics together into a quilted design. A common hand-sewing stitch, the whipstitch, effectively binds two fabric edges together unobtrusively. Sew a whipstitch in quilting when you bind the edges of a quilt or when you sew the hanging sleeve to the quilt backing. With neat and tiny sewing, your whipstitches will hold the fabrics together securely.

Things You'll Need

• Quilting pins
• Quilting needle
• Cotton thread
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Pin the two fabric layers together with the quilting pins to keep them from shifting or moving. Place pins about every 2 to 3 inches along the edge where you will stitch.

2. Thread the quilting needle with a 12-inch length of cotton thread the same color as your fabric. Tie a small knot in the end of the thread.

3. Insert the needle through the underside of the upper fabric layer at the edge of the fabric where you will sew the whipstitch. Position the needle so it comes out along the fold of the fabric to make the stitches nearly invisible. Pull the needle all the way through until the knot sits at the underside of the fabric, concealing the knot.

4. Insert the needle back down through the other fabric layer, positioning the needle about 1/16 inch away from the fold in the upper layer of fabric. Pull the needle all the way through to make a tiny stitch.

5. Push the needle back up through the upper layer of fabric right at the folded edge and pull the needle all the way through to take a stitch.

6. Continue making tiny whipstitches along the folded edge of the upper fabric layer. Because the thread matches the fabric and your stitches are so tiny, the whipstitches will be nearly undetectable.

7. Finish the whipstitching by inserting the needle up from the bottom layer of fabric but do not push it through the upper layer of fabric. Tie a small knot in the thread, positioning the knot so it sits between the two fabric layers. Cut off the excess thread; the knot will hide between the fabric layers.

References

• "Beaded Crazy Quilting"; Cindy Gorder; 2006
• "The Quilters Stitch Bible"; Nikki Tinkler; 2006
• Fiber Images: Hand Sewing Stitches