Ladder Stitch

What you will learn

• Closing a seam invisibly
• Working across a gap
• Controlling tension

Materials and tools

• Hand-sewing needle (sharps, size 7 or 8)
• Thread matched to the fabric, 18 in (45 cm)
• Pillow or toy with an opening
• Pins

Before you start

• Fold the raw edges of the opening 1/4 in (6 mm) inside, so the two folds meet exactly. Pin in place.
• Knot the thread.

1. Bring the needle out through one fold from the inside. The knot sits inside the toy.
2. Take a stitch directly across the gap by passing the needle into the opposite fold. Slide the needle inside that fold along its length for about 1/4 in (6 mm), and bring it out.

3. Move back to the first fold. Place the needle in at the point exactly opposite where the thread came out. Slide along the inside of the fold 1/4 in (6 mm) and bring it out.
4. Repeat from side to side. The stitches are visible as horizontal threads across the gap, like the rungs of a ladder. Keep each one straight across.

5. After 5 or 6 stitches, pull the thread firmly. The rungs vanish and the edges come together into a closed seam.
6. Finish with a knot hidden in the fold. Take the needle through the fold and out about 1/2 in (12 mm) away, then snip the thread.

Tips for a neat result

• Stitch directly across from the last exit point.
• Keep the folds crisp by pressing them before stitching.
• Pull the thread gently but firmly for the best closure.

Common mistakes and fixes

Check your result

• The two folded edges meet and look like a continuous seam.
• No stitches are visible on the front.

Projects that use this