Blanket Stitch is not only a very practical stitch to know, you can use it for appliqué for example, but it's also a decorative stitch with many options to vary and explore! You may also know the Blanket Stitch as the Buttonhole Stitch. We will look at the 'basic' Blanket Stitch first before we move on to the mysterious Blanket of Grass Stitch!Blanket StitchThe 'how to' photos are arranged clockwise (starting top left).Bring the needle up at A and enter the needle into the fabric at an angle (B), to create a loop. Hold the loop down with a finger. Bring the needle up again a little to the right of A, at C in a straight line under B. Pull through. Bring the needle to the back at D and repeat steps. D is essentially the same step as B in the first photo.The regular Blanket Stitch is worked in a line, with stitches of equal height and width. Vary the height or change the distance between stitches for easy variations. Blanket of Grass StitchWhile trying out different Blanket Stitch variations I came up with my own variation. At least it's new to me and perhaps to other people too, as I couldn't find a similar stitch described in my embroidery handbooks. I think it's perfect for my small sampler piece which seems to be more and more inspired by nature, flowers, grasses etc. To have a focal point in the sampler I wanted to add an oval shape at the centre of the design. At first I wasn't sure about the angular quality of this stitch when worked in the round but now I think it's charming and in keeping with the other, sometimes irregularly shaped, stitch examples in the sampler! To give the stitch a name I asked my peeps on Facebook and Instagram to come up with a name. There were many great suggestions and Scott came up with an especially brilliant name: the Blanket of Grass Stitch. To make the Blanket of Grass Stitch, start by creating a loop between A and B. The difference with the regular Blanket Stitch is that we now start with a vertical line from A to B instead of a diagonal one. Hold the loop with your finger and bring the needle up again at C, a little to the right of A. Pull through and you'll see that instead of a 90 degree angle (the mirrored L shape of the regular Blanket Stitch), your stitch has a smaller, 45 degree angle. Continue by bringing the needle to the back of the fabric at D, again creating a loop. Hold the loop down with your finger and bring the needle up at E. Try and get as close as you can to the stitches you made previously. Pull through.Insert the needle at F and create a loop. Bring the needle up at G as close as you can to the stitches made previously. Pull through and insert the needle at H (which is the 'B' of the very first step). Create a loop and bring the needle up at I (in the middle of the blue cross, which is the 'C' of the first step). Repeat the steps to create a line.As shown in my sampler you can also use the Blanket of Grass stitch to create a curved line or even a circle. Curves, even slight curves, will make your line angular so don't expect a smooth line with the Blanket of Grass stitch! Be sure to tag me @followbunny or #whitebunnysampler (Instagram & Twitter) if you are stitching along with me, I'd love to see your work!!

Tutorial: Blanket of Grass Stitch

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