This is a motif stitch. A wheel pattern is made using the blanket stitch. This, inspite of being called the buttonhole wheel commonly. Again, it is a result of using buttonhole and blanket stitches interchangeably. This pattern can serve as a very decorative piece of stitch in embroidery work.

You need to know the blanket stitch to be able to do this stitch. I will work the stitch around a cirle with a common point in the centre.

This stitch can be tried using the buttonhole stitch as well.

Fig 1: Using the circle as the stitch line, bring the needle out through A. Take the needle in through the centre point B and out through C. Keep the thread behind the needle and pull it out.		Fig 2: Continue with this process all around the circle. You can widen the centre point instead of keeping it as a single common point.
		Fig 3: A finshed buttonhole wheel would look like this. You can further enhance the look by using a contrasting color to whip around the wheel rim.

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Tags: blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch, buttonhole wheel, embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery, wheel stitch

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Crossed blanket stitch is a variation that makes crossed patterns, in turn creating  a series of diamond patterns, while making the blanket stitch. It is a decorative stitch which can be used to replace the traditional blanket stitch.

I will work between two horizontally parallel lines, from left to right. This stitch, once the technique learnt, can be done in any direction.

You need to know the blanket stitch and closed blanket stitch to be able to proceed with this stitch easily. I will be working between two horizontally parallel lines from left to right.

Fig 1: Start by followign the sequence of A, B, C as in the closed blanket stitch. Now,  take the needle in through D and out through E, as shown. This time, D lies before B, the reason for the crossed effect.		Fig 2: Continue by taking the needle in through F and out through E.
Fig 3: Now, take the needle in through B and out through F. Continue this process of making crosses with diagonal stitches. It will turn out that you are in fact making diamonds with these crosses.		Fig 4: A finished portion of the crossed blanket stitch would look like this.

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Tags: blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch, closed blanket stitch, crossed blanket stitch, embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery

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Also known as: Half crossed blanket stitch

As the name suggests, this blanket stitch is a closed variation, but forms a beautiful pattern to edge thick fabrics.

Knowing the blanket stitch will be an advantage. I will work between two horizontally parallel stitch lines.

Fig 1:  Bring out the needle through A. Now put the needle in through B, as shown. Take the needle out through C. Note that the points B and C are placed diagonally with each other, unlike in the normal blanket stitch. We continue with this ‘diagonal’ approach through out.		Fig 2: Now, Take the the needle in through D and E, again diagonally placed to each other. Then, Take the needle in through D and bring it out from F as shown. This gives the blanket stitch a ‘closed’ look.
		Fig 3: Continue this process for the entire row.  A finished row would look like this. When done as an edging, both the sides of the fabric would look the same.

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Tags: blanket stitch, blanket stitch family, buttobhole stitch, buttonhole stitch variations, closed blanket stitch, embroidery tutorial, half crossed blanket stitch, hand embroidery

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This stitch is simple and easy, yet a beauty. It is called balnket stitch as traditionally, it is used to stitch the edges of blankets. It not only gives the blanket edges a nice look, but also secures it. This stitch is now used used in many other crafting projects as well. This is one of the most sought after stitches.

Blanket stitch is often confused with the buttonhole stitch. Or, rather, it should be said that blanket stitch and buttonhole stitch are oftern considered to be the same. While, some extensive research would logically explain that they are not.

While both stitches are used to secure edges, buttonhole stitch is a sturdier stitch to secure edges of buttonholes. So, traditionally, tailors would use the buttonhole stitch to hand sew the edges of buttonholes.

Blanket stitch can be sewn from left to right or right to left. I prefer the left to right direction. I have illustrated this stitch between two horizontally parallel stitch lines.

Fig 1: Bring the needle out through A. Take the needle in through B. Take it out through C, a point in the same stitch line as A. Loop the thread under the needle as shown.		Fig 2: Pull out the needle. Continue with this process till the end of the line.
		Fig 3: A portion of the finished blanket stitch would reveal like this.
		Fig 4: The blanket stitch can be given an interesting look by just altering the length of the vertical stitch as shown.

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Tags: blanket stitch, blankets, buttonhole stitch, edging stitch, embroidery tutorial, hand embroidery

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Blanket stitch began as a way to secure the edges of unsewn blankets. The stitch is very easy to do and gives a decorated look. With time, this stitch was experimented with giving rise to different variations and styles of this stitch.

Blanket stitch was also confused easily with the buttonhole stitch and the names were used interchangeably. Closer research reveals that these two stitches came to be confused with each other due to the way they look and the purpose they traditioanlly serve, that is, securign the edges. While blanket stitch is simple and secures the edges of fabrics, buttonhole stitch was traditionally used by tailors to secure the edges of buttonholes with hands. And hence, the name. A buttonhole stitch adds a little ‘knot’ at the elbow, giving it more endurance from teh friction caused by the buttons.

The blanket stitch later came to be used for more than just securing the edges and made a good place in embroidery. Many variations were developed and each stitch in this family became more interesting to do.

Technically, if observed, it shares similarities with the feather stitch family, yet can be classified in a different section altogether. One difference is that the feather stitch family follows a vertical pattern, while the buttonhole family follows a horizontal path.

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Tags: blanket stitch family, buttonhole stitch, embroidery tutorial, feather stitch, hand embroidery

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