The Ladder Stitch is a great technique to have in your arsenal! It is perfect for sewing closed pillows (like this Indiana one) and stuffed animals with a nearly invisible seam. It is a very easy stitch once you get the rhythm!

First, pin the opening shut, with the raw edges tucked to the inside:

 Then, thread your needle and tie off one end of the thread. Here is a quick tutorial on how to tie your thread using a French Knot
This method of tying has changed my hand sewing forever. so easy. so quick.
Also, apparently I was whispering into the camera,  so you may have to turn it up.

Bury the knot inside your pillow by starting the needle on the inside of your seam and bringing it through to the outside right on the fold.

Then, insert your needle into the opposite side of the opening, and run it along the fold for about 1/8 of an inch.

For the next stitch once again insert the needle into the opposite side of the opening, directly across from where the thread is coming out, and take another 1/8" bite along the fold.

Keep repeating this process! After a few more stitches, your sewing will look like this:

Every couple of stitches, pull your thread taut and your stitches will disappear!

Once you get to the end of your opening, tie off your thread, and cut off the extra! Ta-Done.
Here's an oversimplified graphic of the Ladder Stitch:

This method of tying my thread on a needle has changed my hand sewing forever. so easy. so quick.
I will run through a quick set of written instructions, and then I've made a little video demonstration. The demonstration is much easier to understand than the written instructions, FYI. Although apparently I was whispering into the camera, so you may have to turn the sound up.

1. Thread your needle
2. Pull the thread through so that one side is much longer than the other
3. Hold the needle between your left thumb and forefinger
4. Place the end of the longer thread side in that thumb and forefinger along with the needle
5. Use your right hand to wrap the long thread around the needle a few times (the more you wrap it the larger the knot at the end)
6. Add the wrapped thread to the left thumb and forefinger (still holding the needle and the end of the thread as well)
7. Use your right hand to pull the needle carefully through the wrapped thread (that you are still holding onto the entire time)
8. Keep pulling until you get to the end of your thread, and you have a knot!
9. Cut off any extra thread tail you might have on the knot.
10. Start sewing!

 Tape?? Really? Yes! More specifically, masking tape or painter's tape! Painter's tape is my personal choice, because it is sticky enough to stay put on most fabrics, but it doesn't leave any sticky residue on fabric or sewing machine, and it doesn't pill your fabric! Now I'm sure you are wondering why in the world you would be putting tape on your fabrics, right? Well here are 5 reasons to raid your painting supplies for your sewing!

What is a PDF pattern? How do I use it? These are good questions! Downloadable PDF patterns can be intimidating to those of us who have never used them before. But once you know what to expect, they are a breeze!

Nowadays, you don't have to go to the craft store and pick from a narrow selection of patterns to suit your needs. There is a wide world of patterns from indie pattern makers available online. They can be downloaded immediately, printed at home, and pieced together by you!

PDF stands for Portable Document Format, and simply means that it should open on anyone's computer without changing format. When you buy a pattern (or use a free one) you will have to download the file to your computer, and open it in your PDF reader. Then you are ready to print.

When you print your PDF pattern, make sure that you set your printer guidelines to “actual size” so that your computer doesn’t change the size of the image. Also, make sure that you are printing on the correct size of paper. Most patterns will be compatible with both US Letter and A4 but be sure to check.

My patterns will include a picture like this in the instructions. It is an overview of where all the pages go. This is what we are aiming for when your pattern is all put together. Refer back to this picture if you aren’t sure you got it right. Use this picture and the numbered and lettered diamonds on the edges to make sure that your pages are laid out correctly.  A1 will match with A1 and so on.

Now, we will start putting the pages together. Take both the pages with A1’s on them, cut the extra side of the first paper off, and then tape it on top of the second page so that the diamond, and all the pattern lines match. Now do the same for the rest of the pages!

After you have everything taped together, you can cut out your individual pattern pieces.

Happy Sewing!