How to Use a Hand Sewn Blind Stitch to Fix a Tear

We've all been in the situation where we pull out our interview suit or little black dress just to discover that somehow, at some point, it has ripped. This is the perfect situation to hand-sewthe rip. It's called a blind stitch because it hides well, allowing simple repairs to be less noticeable.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Torn fabric
• Hand sewing needle
• Thread
• Scissors

Getting Ready

1. Trim any loose threads from the edges of the ripped fabric, being careful not to cut further into the undamaged areas.

2. Find a thread that matches your torn fabric as closely as possible. If the fabric has a multicolored pattern, select the most prominent color to match your thread.

3. Thread your needle, and tie a small but solid knot at the end of the thread. It should be large enough that it won't slip between the threads of your fabric, so loose weave fabrics require larger knits.

4. Insert the needle from the back of the fabric, about 1/4 inch from the end of the tear. The point of the needle should be in a straight line with the tear.

Stitching

5. Insert the needle slightly to the left of your center point (where the thread came up the first time) and about 1/8 an inch away. The needle should be going front to back this time.

6. Run the needle under the fabric about 1/8 an inch, moving towards the end of the tear, and push it back up through the fabric to the top side.

7. Pull that stitch gently, and repeat on the right of the center line.

8. Move just a centimeter or so out as you do each pair of stitches, so that they get slightly wider as they reach the end of the tear.

9. Use uniform stitches across the length of the tear, putting each one about 1/8" from the torn edge.

Finishing the Repair

10. Move your stitches closer together once you pass the other end of the tear, narrowing the stitch line back to a point, just as it started.

11. Finish the last stitch by pushing the needle through to the back of the fabric, and pull the thread gently until the stitches pull together and seal up the tear.

12. Securely knot the thread on the back of the fabric, taking care not to let it be seen from the front.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are working with a fabric that is loosely woven or frays easily, you need to make the stitches further from the torn sides to prevent them from pulling through. You should also start and finish further away from the ends of the tear so that the gathering is more gradual when you finish.
• This is not completely invisible. It creates a small line that looks a bit like a seam, but depending on the placement in your garment or other fabric item, it could be quite unnoticeable.