How to Hand Sew a Blind Stitch

A blind stitch is most often used to hem garments, though they can also be used for repair purposes. The stitch gets its name because it is sewn in a way where you do not see the thread on the outer part of the garment. Though the concept of how to sew a blind stitch may seem difficult, it is fairly easy to learn and remember. 

Step 1: Iron the Hem

Before you make any stitches, you will need to fold the garment you are hemming where you wish it to hemmed. If you are having problems securing it, you can add a few pins to hold it in place.

After it is pinned, iron your hem with the setting needed for your material. Make sure you keep the iron on the hem a few seconds to make a good crease. Doing this step will make sure that you hem your garment straight and it won’t be uneven.

Step 2: Fold the Hem Back

After you are done ironing the hem, you will want to fold it back to create and edge, and the edge is where you will be sewing. Make sure that it is situated in a way that is easy to hold for you, but will not cause problems for your blind stitch.

Step 3: Start the Stitch

For best results hold the needle in your right hand if you are right handed, and left if left-handed, and work in the opposite direction. Make sure that as you begin each stitch, the needle you work with is pointing toward your less dominate hand.

As you make your first stitch, make sure that you only pick up a tiny bit of the outer fabric so that it will not show. At the same time, make a stitch in the edge of the fabric that you are hemming. The larger stitch in the fabric will help support the smaller stitch that holds the outer fabric with the inner fabric.

Step 4: Continue and Repeat

Continue stitching working in whichever direction your hand is dominant. This will create even stitches that work well for hemming. Once you are finished circling the hem, tie the end of the thread tightly to make sure it will not unravel your work.

Additional Tips: Using Blind Stitches for Repairs

You can also use the blind stitch when making repairs in your garments. Though the actual work will be the same, there are a few extra things you should do to make sure the garment is properly fixed.

Tip 1: Trimming

Make sure that you trim all loose threads from the edge of the fabric. This will help prevent your garment from unraveling. As you complete this step, make sure to check you are not cutting into fabric on the other side of the garment.

Tip 2: Color Match

Use thread and patches that are as close as possible to the original fabric color. This will help keep the integrity of your garment and will be less noticeable.

By following these steps and keeping your stitches small and tight, you will be able to hem and repair your garments easily and discreetly.