If you’ve ever felt intimidated by hand sewing, let me reassure you, you don’t need to be an expert (or even own a sewing machine!) to make beautiful, handmade felt crafts. All it takes is a needle, thread, and a few simple stitches.
In this guide, you’ll learn five beginner-friendly embroidery stitches that are perfect for felt projects. Whether you're making ornaments, keychains, or felt play food, these basic stitches will help bring your designs to life, one thread at a time.
Why Stitch Felt by Hand Instead of Using Glue?
Fabric glue has its place, especially in kids’ crafts or fast projects, but when you want a more polished, long-lasting, and handmade look, hand sewing is the way to go.
Here’s why:
- Cleaner finish: Stitches look neater and feel sturdier than glued edges.
- Durability: Hand stitching holds up better over time, especially on items like toys or keychains.
- Creative control: You can adjust the size, placement, and visibility of your stitches.
- Adds charm: There’s something timeless and heartfelt about visible stitches on handmade items.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you start stitching, gather these supplies:
- Felt sheets: Wool, acrylic, or blend, your choice.
- Embroidery floss: Comes in many colors; use all 6 strands for bold stitches.
- Embroidery needle: Look for a sharp point and an eye large enough for floss.
- Sharp scissors: For clean cuts and trimming floss.
- Marking tool: Chalk pencil or disappearing ink pen (optional for guides)
Optional but helpful:
- Embroidery hoop: Not necessary for felt, but can help beginners keep tension even.
Step-by-Step Stitch Tutorials for Felt Projects
1. Backstitch
Best for: Outlining shapes, writing letters, and detail work
How to do it:
- Bring the needle up from the back of the felt.
- Take one small stitch forward.
- Bring the needle back up a stitch length ahead.
- Insert the needle back into the end of the previous stitch.
- Repeat to form a continuous solid line.
Tip: Keep your stitch length consistent for a smooth outline.
2. Chain Stitch
Best for: Decorative outlines, borders, vines, or curved designs
How to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the felt.
- Insert it back down near the same hole, but don’t pull it all the way through.
- Before tightening, bring the needle back up a short distance away and catch the loop with your needle.
- Pull through gently to form a chain loop.
- Repeat, always catching the next loop with your needle.
Tip: Keep tension even so the loops are uniform but not too tight.
3. Satin Stitch
Best for: Filling in shapes with solid color (flowers, leaves, hearts)
How to do it:
- Outline the shape you want to fill.
- Bring the needle up on one side of the shape.
- Insert it on the opposite edge.
- Bring it back up just beside the first stitch and repeat.
- Work closely together for smooth coverage.
Tip: This one takes patience, as neat rows make all the difference. This stitch is a bit tricky with felt, and I don't really recommend that you use it - instead, cut out a piece of felt and attach it to the area where you want the color.
4. French Knot
Best for: Dots, flower centers, eyes, or textured accents
How to do it:
- Bring the needle up through the felt.
- Hold the floss tight and wrap it around the needle 2–3 times.
- Insert the needle close to where you came up.
- Hold the floss taut and pull the needle through slowly.
Tip: Practice on scrap felt. Tension is key to making knots stay put. Consider using a bead in place of a french knot if they give you trouble.
5. Blanket Stitch
Best for: Joining two felt layers, finishing edges (especially on plushies or ornaments)
How to do it:
- Bring the needle up between the two felt layers at the edge.
- Insert it down through both layers a short distance away.
- Pull through, but loop the floss under the needle before tightening.
- Repeat, keeping stitch length and spacing even.
Tip: This is the stitch most commonly used on felt edges. Learn it once, and you'll use it everywhere.
Common Stitching Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Uneven tension: If your stitches are too tight or too loose, they’ll distort your felt. Try to keep the pull gentle and steady.
- Skipping knots: Always knot your floss at the start and end to secure it properly.
- Messy backs: It’s tempting to rush, but clean backs prevent tangling and help your project last.
- Overcomplicating: Don’t feel like you need to use every stitch in one project. Sometimes one or two is enough.
Final Stitch: Practice Makes Progress
Hand stitching felt is a skill anyone can learn, and you don’t need fancy tools or hours of free time to enjoy it. Start with these five stitches, take your time, and enjoy the rhythm of working with your hands.
Happy stitching!