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    Home » Video Tutorials » Joining and Seaming

    Mattress Stitch Seaming

    Published: Sep 25, 2013 · Modified: Jun 26, 2018 by Tamara Kelly · 36 Comments

    If you crochet (or knit) for long enough, eventually you're going to want to make something with seams. And while seamless patterns are great, seams can add a lot of structure, prevent stretching in the wrong places, and are important for the majority of motif projects. There are a variety of seaming techniques out there, but this tutorial focuses on the most invisible of seams - the Mattress Stitch! Here's how it's done.

    Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    Mattress Stitch Tutorial Video

    Mattress Stitch Photo Tutorial and Written Instructions

    The mattress stitch brings together two pieces of fabric, crocheted or knitted. The key is to mirror what you do on one side or one piece with what you do on the other. If you're working into the top edges, as shown here, it's easy to keep things even because each stitch is clear. If you are working in the side edges, then go through the same part of the stitch on each side when you can, and just watch your spacing and be consistent when you cannot. And here's an important tip: when seaming a long section (particularly when working into the side edges), use stitch markers or clips to hold the pieces together in several places as you want them sewn, so you don't end up with one side shorter than the other!

    In this tutorial I'm using a contrasting yarn so you can see the stitches - but when you work this stitch for your project use a matching yarn for truly invisible stitching! This tutorial was made using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted.

    Step 1: Thread a yarn or tapestry needle with the yarn you'll use for seaming - a long tail end is perfect if you've got it! Bring it through the first stitch from the wrong side of the fabric to the right side.

    Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    Step 2: On the opposite side or other piece of fabric, sew through the first stitch from the back to the front - mirroring the stitch on the first side.Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    Continue with the next set of stitches, working each side back and forth, sewing from the back to the front, or wrong side to right side, keeping it even.

    Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    After you've worked several sets of stitches, start tightening up the first few. And watch them disappear!Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    It even looks good from the back! Continue til you're done - that's all there is to it!Mattress Stitch Seaming for #Crochet Projects - video and photo tutorial on Moogly

    Seaming takes a bit of practice to be sure, but it's an important skill to add your arsenal, and adds so many more patterns to the list of things you can make! When you use the same color of yarn to make the seam as you did for the fabric, it really does disappear. And the resulting seam is flat and nearly invisible! I hope you'll give it a try!

    Be sure to check out and like the moogly Facebook page to get the latest updates, links, and sneak peeks. Moogly is also on Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Sulia, and Google+ – come join the fun! TamaraKelly@mooglyblog.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 1

      Penny

      September 25, 2013 at 10:56 am

      That is awesome! Thank you so much for demonstrating this. I can't wait to use it!

      Reply
      • 2

        Tamara Kelly

        September 25, 2013 at 11:14 am

        😀 Thanks Penny!

        Reply
    2. 3

      Jane @ Handiworking

      September 25, 2013 at 11:05 am

      I hate seaming, but you certainly made it simple and the end result is fantastic. I'll give it a try ... thanks!

      Reply
      • 4

        Tamara Kelly

        September 25, 2013 at 11:14 am

        😀 Thank you Jane! It can be a chore, but it's usually worth it!

        Reply
    3. 5

      DreAnna Plaisted

      September 25, 2013 at 11:53 am

      Thanks Tamara, this stitch will be really useful for my new products! 😀

      Reply
      • 6

        Tamara Kelly

        September 25, 2013 at 2:09 pm

        You're very welcome!

        Reply
    4. 7

      AJ

      September 25, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      I really like that the seaming just disappears with this stitch. Do you think it would be good to use when seaming afghan squares together?

      Reply
      • 8

        Tamara Kelly

        September 25, 2013 at 4:55 pm

        Yes it would, as long as there are the same number of sts on each square (or close enough to fudge it) and more so if the squares are the same color in the border. 🙂

        Reply
    5. 9

      DM

      September 26, 2013 at 10:46 am

      Excellent! Thank you for the tip!

      Reply
    6. 10

      Donna Telley

      October 03, 2013 at 8:20 am

      This is awesome. I was making a sweater for my grandson and used this to stitch the shoulder seams for fitting. It really works! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • 11

        Tamara Kelly

        October 03, 2013 at 8:55 am

        😀 So glad to hear it Donna! You're welcome!

        Reply
    7. 12

      Shauna

      October 09, 2013 at 10:41 am

      I just can't say enough how much I love your blog! It's so helpful, I appreciate all the hard work and effort you have put into it! Thank you!

      Reply
      • 13

        Tamara Kelly

        October 09, 2013 at 2:35 pm

        Thanks so much Shauna! 😀

        Reply
    8. 14

      Ali

      November 16, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Love this seam Tamara - thanks very much for the tutorial - will be using it much more in the future!
      Ali

      Reply
      • 15

        Tamara Kelly

        November 16, 2013 at 11:10 am

        🙂 Thank you Ali, glad you like it!

        Reply
    9. 16

      Emily R

      August 27, 2014 at 7:48 pm

      I love this video. it is the one i search for each time i have to join!

      Reply
      • 17

        Tamara Kelly

        August 28, 2014 at 8:50 am

        😀 Thank you Emily!

        Reply
    10. 18

      Anna U.

      November 17, 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Tamara, you may have saved my sanity AND my project!! 😉 Making my first pair of top-down crochet slippers, and they require seaming from all the way under the toes and up the back of the heel to the ankle. None of my attempts at seaming something invisible *and* comfortable were working, and I was getting more frustrated by the minute. This tutorial was the top result from my Google searches, and is absolutely the answer I needed. Thank you SO much for all the great work you share with us! <3

      Reply
      • 19

        Tamara Kelly

        November 18, 2014 at 7:40 am

        Oh that's great to hear Anna! I'm so glad - and thank you! 😀

        Reply
    11. 20

      Amber

      May 25, 2015 at 12:04 am

      This is exactly what I was looking for! Do you have any suggestions for how to do this while stitching together squares of different colors, or even a different method to where the seem would still be as invisible as possible? I Have crocheted about 4-5 varying colors, mostly shades of green, to try putting together a Minecraft Creeper blanket for my son. I'm thinking of using the lime shade of green with the most amount of squares for this combination, and just praying it will come together invisible. Last, the border will be the same shade of lime green that has formed most of the squares. Lime green is the main shade, but there are also hunter green, grey, and a few white squares as well.
      Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I wish I could attach a pic, but if you happen to see this and respond, you could simply Google Minecarft Creeper blanket. I'm a complet beginner and just want this to turn out as good as it possibly can, as I am very OCD also.
      TIA - Nervous in Texas

      Reply
      • 21

        Tamara Kelly

        May 26, 2015 at 10:22 am

        Ah Minecraft! I have some obsessed sons myself. 😀 This is the most invisible seam I know of. For the border, it might be fun to hold two colors together while crocheting a simple sc border - skipping every other or every third stitch as needed, since the stitches will be thicker.

        Reply
    12. 22

      Nancy mcquade

      May 31, 2016 at 6:59 pm

      Hello Tamara,
      I am in the process of finishing up a sweater and will need to put it together next. I have been looking at the tutorials for the various joining methods but don't know which is most suitable for putting together a sweater. What do you think?

      Reply
      • 23

        Tamara Kelly

        May 31, 2016 at 8:38 pm

        Hi Nancy! For a sweater, I would use the mattress stitch, or if that didn't seem to work best, I'd go with a whip stitch. 🙂

        Reply
    13. 24

      Karen

      July 05, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      I've crocheted for over 50 years and I'm just now learning about this?! Cannot wait to try this out! Thank you!

      Reply
      • 25

        Tamara Kelly

        July 07, 2017 at 10:40 am

        😀 I'm so glad you like it, thank you Karen!

        Reply
    14. 26

      Beth

      November 05, 2017 at 7:57 am

      How do you attach the beginning yarn tail?

      Reply
      • 27

        Tamara Kelly

        November 06, 2017 at 8:38 am

        Hi Beth! After I've finished sewing the seam, I come back to the tail hanging there at the beginning and after tightening up those first few stitches (if needed) I just weave it in as I would any other yarn tail. Just leave a good 6-12 inches hanging at the beginning, being careful not to pull it all the way through the first few stitches, and it should be fine to wait for you to come back to it later. And this way, if you make an error and need to pull out a few stitches, you aren't "locked in" til you're done. 🙂

        Reply
    15. 28

      Caroline

      August 08, 2018 at 12:03 am

      A great set of simple, easy to follow instructions with nice clear photos. Thanks I can now confidently approach assembling the baby cardigan I'm making. ☺

      Reply
      • 29

        Tamara Kelly

        August 08, 2018 at 10:52 am

        I'm so glad it helped, thank you Caroline!

        Reply
    16. 30

      Claudia

      August 21, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      Began now joining baby blanket stripes with the mattress stitch. Great! Thanks.

      Reply
    17. 31

      Robin

      August 28, 2020 at 8:05 am

      Thank you for sharing these excellent directions. I have to agree with the person above. I've crocheted for a long time but have avoided clothing. This helped me finish a sweater for my mother. Thank you, agsin.

      Reply
      • 32

        Tamara Kelly

        August 28, 2020 at 11:17 am

        I'm so glad, thank you, Robin!

        Reply
    18. 33

      Gay

      March 12, 2021 at 3:36 pm

      I’m like Karen, having knitted and crocheted for many years, with never a satisfying seaming method. Thanks so much for sharing your techniques.

      Reply
      • 34

        Tamara Kelly

        March 12, 2021 at 5:07 pm

        I'm so glad you like it! ♥

        Reply
    19. 35

      Linda Dennis

      December 16, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      I am sending this comment to find out where I go for to print the pattern, which says the pattern is free..

      Reply
      • 36

        Tamara Kelly

        December 19, 2022 at 10:52 am

        Hi Linda! You've commented on a tutorial for the mattress stitch, so I don't know what pattern you are referring to. Can you email me at tkelly75@gmail.com with more info on what you are looking for?

        Reply

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