Q&A for How to Blind Stitch

To finish off a pillow, you are using a ladder stitch. The stitches are of equal length to provide strength for the seam. A blind stitch can work for a pillowcase hem, but not to enclose a pillow. The shorter stitch does not seal the pillow opening shut.

To secure an opening on a couch cushion use a ladder stitch. This is done by making even stitches on either side of the opening. Because you are sewing across a gap, start the stitch a little before the exit location of the stitch. This will line up the stitches so there will be less of a gap between stitches.

Reverse the direction of the stitching twice for 2-3 stitches before cutting the thread. When the material is pulled, the stitching thread is now pulled in both directions. This prevents the stitches from coming apart.

To blind stitch a cup corset dress, pin the fabric and cups in place. Use a needle and thread that matches the fabric color. Start by securing the thread inside the fabric, then take small stitches through the cup edge and outer fabric, keeping them tight and hidden. Finish by tying off the thread inside and trimming the excess for a clean look.

A blind stitch is used to make stitches nearly invisible, perfect for hems, linings, or formal wear. The needle picks up tiny bits of fabric, keeping the thread hidden. It can be done by hand or with a sewing machine, giving a clean, professional finish.

To create a neat hem, fold the raw edge under twice (6–12 mm total) and press or pin it in place. Using matching thread, work from the right side, inserting your needle into the folded edge to catch a tiny bit of fabric, then moving 4–6 mm from the fold to pick up a single thread from the shirt body, without going through to the outside. Repeat this alternating process, ensuring stitches are small and evenly spaced, then gently pull to close the seam without over-tightening. Secure with a few small back-and-forth stitches on the wrong side, weave the thread tail, trim, and practice on a scrap to match your tension.

Yes, you can use a blind (ladder/invisible) stitch to attach fabric to fur if done carefully. You should fold the fabric edge to hide the raw edge and place the fur pile over or aligned with the fold. Use small, evenly spaced picks, catching only the backing or underfur, to keep stitches hidden while avoiding long grabs of the pile. You will achieve the best results by working from the right side, alternating tiny stitches in the fabric fold and tiny picks into the fur backing, pulling gently to close the seam, and testing on a scrap to ensure correct tension and avoid visible gaps or pulled fur.

Yes, the ladder (invisible) stitch is ideal for closing a pillow seam. Thread a needle with matching thread and knot the end. Align raw edges to close the pillow, hiding the stuffing. Insert the needle into the folded edge of one side, catching a tiny horizontal thread; pull through. Move directly across and catch an equally tiny horizontal thread from the opposite folded edge; pull through. Repeat this process, alternating sides with small, even stitches, then gently pull the thread to close the gap, secure with small back‑and‑forth stitches, and weave in the tail.

To blind stitch knitted panels, place them with wrong sides (WS) together and align the edges. Thread a blunt darning needle with matching yarn, approximately three times the seam's length. Using a mattress stitch, insert the needle under the horizontal bar between the first and second stitch on one panel from front to back, then do the same on the corresponding bar of the other panel, alternating sides. Gently tighten each pass to close the seam without overpulling, then fasten off and weave in the ends to create an invisible, flat seam.

To begin, thread your needle with matching yarn and knot the end, then align your pieces right sides out, holding their edges together. Starting from one end, insert your needle into the folded edge of piece A just under the outermost stitches, catching only a tiny horizontal loop (not through to the right side), and pull the yarn through. Next, move to piece B and insert your needle into an equivalent tiny loop under its outermost row, directly across; alternate these tiny picks from A then B, keeping spacing equal and close to the edge, and gently pull the thread every few stitches to close the gap without overtightening. Finally, secure with small back-and-forth stitches, weave the tail 5-6 cm into the fabric, and trim.