After you have ‘stuffed’ your softies , pin cushions, cushions etc you need to ‘close’ the gap in the seam by hand. A good way to do this is with Ladder Stitch – think a ladder and lots of rungs!
Take a needle and a knotted thread and slide the needle through the seam allowance at the beginning of the opening.
Slide the needle along inside the seam allowance on one side to form a stitch
Then insert the needle in the other side, directly opposite the point the needle came out, and take another stitch. Repeat this for 4-5 stitches – see on my finger
Then pull the thread to close the stitches. Continue with this till the seam is closed. Finish with a double stitch and push your needle out through the finished item – trim.
You will have a lovely, neat finish !
Until next time
Nanny xx
In knitting we call this the mattress stitch. Very handy.
Thank you Nita! It is a handy stitch isn’t it – so much neater! 🙂
Thank you. I do something similar but still can see the stitches. I didn’t actually travel up the seam allowance a bit. I see where this is better.
You are welcome, Kathy! I’m so glad you think you will be able to use it in your sewing! 🙂
I have used that for ages, taught to me by my grandmother way back when I first starting hand stitching, it was just a closing stitch. Now at 66 I learn it does have a name. Thank you. IT does work great.
Thank you David and Patty! How wonderful for you to have been taught by your Grandmother – I hope that my grandchildren will be able to say that one day!! 🙂
I’ve used this for binding on quilts forever – I didn’t know its name either! Regardless, you can’t see the handstitching on binding.
Hi Fran and thank you for sharing another place to use this stitch! I hadn’t though about how I did my bindings! 🙂
Wonderful tutorial!
Great post!! I included it in my post Βόλτα στη Γειτονιά!!! …while sewing!! 🙂
Have a great weekend!!
Thank you Tina – I’m so glad you liked it! Thank you for including me in your post – I look forward to welcoming some of your readers!! 🙂