How to Sew a Blind Stitch on Binding on a Quilt or Hem
Whether you're sewing the binding onto the edge of a quilt or finishing the hem on the bottom of a skirt, the blind stitch is one of the most useful stitches that you can utilize. This stitch is strong, not easy to snag, and quickly hides out of the way so that your craft shines through instead of the stitching. Match your thread to the darkest fabric that you are sewing and you'll create a virtually invisible seam on the edge of your project.
Instructions
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1
Pin your hem or binding securely so that you have a smooth folded edge held tightly to the background fabric on which it will be sewn.
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2
Thread a small needle and tie a knot at the end of one strand. Leave the knotted end of the strand longer than the unknotted end. This will create a single-strand stitch in your sewing.
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Take a tiny stitch into the background fabric directly below the folded fabric. Push the needle down through the background fabric and directly back up through the fabric, about two threads away. Push the needle through the folded edge of the fabric, just barely catching a few threads in the fold.
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4
Pull the thread snugly to secure the first stitch. Take another tiny stitch in the background fabric, about 1/4 inch down the hem from the first stitch. Push the needle down through the background fabric, catch about three threads, then push the needle up through the background fabric and into the edge of the fold in the top fabric. Pull the thread to secure this stitch.
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Continue taking small stitches in the background and folded fabric. The stitches on the front side of the garment or quilt will be very tiny, barely showing at all. The stitches in the back side may be larger, but shouldn't measure more than 1/4 inch each.
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Tie a small knot at the surface of the fabric when the hemming is done, and bury the knot below the folded edge of fabric on top.
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References
- Photo Credit needle image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com
