How to Hand Sew an Invisible Stitch (Tutorial), by OnlineFabricStore on YouTube. 2 min 10 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 10 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Thread the needle and tie a small knot at the end of the thread. Match the thread colour to the fabric so the stitches blend in.
Turn the item inside out if you can, and line up the two raw edges. Pin or clip them so the fold lines meet evenly.
Press the seam allowance flat with your fingers or an iron. Crisp folds make the stitch easier to hide.
Bring the needle up through the fold on one side, hiding the knot inside the fabric. Pull the thread snug.
Cross straight over to the opposite fold and take a tiny stitch, catching only one or two threads of fabric. Pull gently.
Cross back to the first side and take another tiny stitch directly across from the last one. Keep the spacing even, about 3 to 5 mm apart.
Keep alternating sides to form a ladder of thread across the gap. Do not pull tight until you have sewn a few stitches.
Pull the thread gently to draw the two folds together. The ladder closes and the stitches disappear inside the seam.
Finish with a small backstitch, then run the needle through the fold and trim the thread. Press the seam flat.
Tips and common mistakes
Catch only a thread or two of the fabric on each stitch, or the repair will pucker and show.
Use thread close to the fabric colour, and avoid heavy thread that stands out on fine cloth.
Pull the seam closed gradually as you go, not all at once at the end, to keep the edges even.
Keep stitches small and evenly spaced so the ladder closes smoothly without gaps.
Questions
What is the difference between an invisible stitch and a ladder stitch?
They are the same stitch. It is also called a hidden, blind or slip stitch, and all names describe the thread ladder hidden inside a folded seam.
Can I use this stitch on a hem?
Yes. Fold the hem, then work the ladder between the hem fold and the main fabric. Keep the stitches tiny so they do not show on the outside.
How do I stop the thread from showing?
Match the thread colour, take tiny bites of fabric and pull gently. If the seam puckers, you caught too much fabric, so undo a few stitches and try again.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
