A beginner’s guide to blanket stitch wool applique (tutorial)

Yesterday, I shared two great tools that are helpful for aligning your hexagon applique shapes. Today, I’ll show you how you can relax while learning how to blanket stitch your wool hexagons! Yes…Even if you’re a true beginner! The Snow Crystals Hexie Pillow is the perfect project to stitch by the fireplace and promote your inner calm and peace. Embroidering the wool hexagons was easy and relaxing. I enjoyed embroidering over the Christmas holidays at the cottage; slowing down the pace to stitch one hexagon at a time was quite meditative, and I strongly suggest it to everyone.

The blanket stitch is the perfect way to applique the hexagons onto the wool background. It’s an excellent way to add detail and dimension to your project. Now the kit Christine Baker prepared for me, and available at Upper Canada Quiltworks, included 4 variegated three strand cotton floss. Using embroidery floss made the blanket stitch flat and smooth.

The kit also included Clover Gold Eye Chenille Needles No. 22 and they were perfect for the job. The needles were just sharp enough and thin enough to glide through my wool fabrics without making large holes. And the gold eye really helped me to thread the floss easily. But before I could begin the blanket stitch embroidery, I had to do one more thing!

The trick to a perfect blanket stitch is to get your stitches evenly spaced and at the same height throughout your applique. As I’m an absolute beginner, I decided to mark each hexagon before I began at ¼’’ to ensure my blanket stitch would be even. I also marked each corner to ensure I’d leave enough space and make a nice stitch in each corner.

Steps to a perfect blanket stitch

After threading your needle:

• Tie a knot at the end of your thread.
• Come up from the back of your wool fabric onto a corner edge of your wool hexagon.
• Insert your needle vertically about ¼’’ inside your applique and about ¼’’ to the right (you’ll thank me for having marked your hexies).
• Pull the needle back up just above, on the edge of the applique.
• Allow the thread to hang under your needle as you pull the thread back on top of the project.
• To ensure a smooth stitch, don’t pull your thread too tight.
• Repeat the stitch around the edge of your applique.

When finished, bring your needle to the back of your project and needle through several stitches under the hexie before making a small hidden stitch to set your thread. Trim off any excess thread.

Here is a quick video demonstrating how I did my blanket stitch.

Hope you enjoyed this beginner’s guide to blanket stitch embroidery and that today’s post helps you create your very own wool applique project. Come back tomorrow for the big reveal!

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: 2 tools you need to perfectly align hexagon wool applique shapes

Go to part 5: Turn your applique project into a cozy pillow with the right stuff