# Slip Stitch, How to Use Slip Stitch (Step by Step)
What is slip stitch?
Slip stitch is a hand stitch used on the edges of thicker materials such as felt and wool. It can be decorative, like a nice border on a blanket, or an edge for holding felt toys and sewing projects.

Loop stitches are often used on appliqué fabrics because they provide a nice edge while preventing fraying.

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Cover Stitch Accessories
To sew a blanket stitch, you'll need a hand sewing needle and some thread.

For decorative loop stitches:

Embroidery thread
embroidery needle
Getting embroidery thread through the eye of the needle can be a little tricky, so be sure to read my article on using a needle threader. Even thick wool threads can be used for items like blankets. Read more about embroidery tools

Add slip stitch:

You can use all-purpose thread or use embroidery floss for a thicker look. Embroidery thread has multiple interlaces, so you can choose as many threads as you want.
Hand stitched to match.

What is the best yarn to use with felt?
Cotton embroidery thread is most commonly used for hand sewing or appliqué wool felt. It's flexible, soft, fade-resistant, fade-resistant, and available in 458 colors! It's also cheap. Each strand consists of six easily separable strands. Depending on the project, I like to use two or three strands.

Perle Cotton is a highly mercerized (treated for strength and some sheen) single-strand cotton embroidery thread. It's extra soft and shiny, hence the name "pearl," and doesn't kink or knot as often as regular six-ply floss. EPE comes in strands or strands and is available in a variety of sizes (thicknesses). Color options are more limited than six strands of floss. I like to use Perle cotton thread to add dimension and volume to the seams.

Thread Length - For Stockinette knitted appliqués, you will need approximately four times the thread length you intend to sew. Long work lines can be bulky, curled and knotted. We showed you in Beginner Lesson 2 how to end and start threads seamlessly so you can use shorter lengths.
Things you may interest: [How to Wash a Plush Blanket](https://blog.ulifestyle.com.hk/article/tomydaughterblanket/4224389/how-to-wash-a-plush-blanket)

What about the color of the line?
The thread color selection part of the project depends on the effect you want. If you want the yarn to "blend" with the felt, choose a slightly darker color than an exact match. Contrasting line colors are an effective way to add sparkle and depth to a project.
Which needle should I use?
Choosing thread colors for your project partly depends on the effect you want. If you want the yarn to "blend" with the felt, choose a slightly darker color than an exact match. Contrasting thread colors are an effective way to add sparkle and depth to your projects.
What is a slip stitch?
Slip stitch is a decorative hand sewing stitch traditionally used to trim the edges of ruffled blankets. It is widely used today for sewing and craft projects from beginners to experts. It works from the front of your piece and can be sewn right to left or left to right. When used as a border, it appears on both sides of the felt.

Slip stitch is also used as a decorative stitch for appliqués, joining one piece of fabric to another and sewing two pieces of felt together.

Choose high-quality felt
get good stuff! If you use pure wool felt or a wool and viscose blend, you will be more than happy to make your project come true. Acrylic felt is very inexpensive, is available at most craft stores, and is fluffier and less slippery than wool felt. It can tear and weaken in the middle, distorting the shape of the item. Check your local fabric store to see what they offer. There are also many online stores offering quality wool felt for sewing and craft projects.

use sharp tools
Wool felt, even at 1mm density, is thicker than most other fabrics. If you are cutting with a rotary cutter, use sharp scissors to cut your gobo and a sharp blade. Take advantage of those sharp edges that won't fray!

Please take me to class!

Thoughts on "What thread should you use?"
Which yarn is best for wool? The answer depends on how much or how much you want your threads to show. It also depends on whether you stick to something simple like blanket stitching or adding embroidery.

For wool, I usually use a circular stitch because it looks nice and fast. I vary the look of the stitches by using different types and weights of thread. (FYI: I fused the wool appliqué shape with Soft Fuse before I started sewing. It worked and was really "soft".)

This line from In The Patch is a wool blend. It is strong, thin and somewhat fluffy, so it blends well with wool. Use it when you don't want your stitches to show too much. If desired, you can add embroidery stitches to these barely visible stitches.

I have worn 5 different weights of Prescencia Perle cotton and #16 is the best. It is very similar to wool thread, but not fuzzy. The cotton has a slight sheen and the yarns are tightly twisted together - both make the threads more visible, but still fine.

You can use 16-gauge cotton and a large needle in your sewing machine.

EPE sizes range from #3 (thickest) to #16 (thinest). While the differences between them may be subtle, I found each weight useful. This is especially true when using these threads on cotton fabrics.

Prescencia Perle Cotton #12 (right) is the next heavier line. Thread #5 on the left is two steps below #12 and is visible.
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#8 Prescencia Perle cotton is medium weight. It can appear thick or thin, depending on how you use it. Compare that to the thinner wool thread on the far left and the thicker #3 Painter's Pearl cotton thread in the middle and you can easily tell the difference.

(More information on Painter's Bead Cottons coming soon.)

What is the difference between buttonhole stitch and elastic stitch?
I am often asked about the difference between these two types of needles. This is actually the name and purpose for which staplers use them. Guess what to use to tie the edges of the blanket? Which is used to tie the buttons?Today, we often use this versatile design element as a versatile decorative embroidery stitch rather than as a practical use.

You can work in rows or "rounds" as shown by the flowers in the basket in the photo. It doesn't matter if the stitches are uneven or not. A less-than-perfect look looks more authentic in regional embroidery.

However, when using stitches on white sheets, your stitches need to be smaller and more precise.

You can also do something completely different, completely freestyle like I did with hermit crab shells.

Did you know there is no fabric stitching to support yourself? In Madeira embroidery, we use tight circular stitches to outline the figures and create lace-like connections in the open areas of the embroidery design.

At the needle tip, we outline a shape with overlay stitches on the temporary base and fill in the gaps with a buttonhole pattern. Then we use the same stitches to cover the edges and sometimes fill the edges.

In this article, I will share:

- Tutorial for creating blanket stitches

- Threads work well with primers

Blanket Sewing Instructions
You can do this simple stitch with or without a hoop. I will provide instructions for both methods. It's faster to do it by hand, but the fabric is more prone to wrinkling if the thread is taut.

How much yarn to use for the back seam?
You have a variety of threading options to choose from. Why not try this class?

If you are sewing rough blanket stitches along the edge of the blanket, you can make two turns of the yarn in the large tapestry needle.

For thicker stitches designed around Hardanger, size 5 pearl cotton is usually chosen, which is inseparable.

If you're using a needle point, choose a fine point or braided thread that won't unravel when you sew.

You can choose between regional embroidery or circular embroidery. I prefer thicker thread instead of multiple strands of thin thread because I can feel the stitches
cleaner.

In the first two photos below, I'm using rayon embroidery thread.

How to stitch evenly
In the photo below, you can see that I used a vanishing ink pen to mark the fabric with dots on two parallel lines to make sure my stitches were of equal length and evenly spaced.

If you're sewing straight lines on plaid or striped fabric, you can use the pattern itself to keep the stitching consistent. Of course, in this case you are limited to the size of the strip or check.

When using an even fabric, sew each stitch on the same amount of fabric, making sure they are the same size.

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