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Basic Sewing Stitches For Beginners
Basic Sewing Stitches For Beginners
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When it comes to sewing, if you’ve only familiarized yourself with Find Sewing Lessons
the basic running stitch, then it’s time to broaden your horizons.
There are many different types of sewing stitches that allow you New York City Los Angeles
to achieve certain goals. For example, if you want to sew an Washington DC San Diego
eyelet, you’ll want to master the blanket stitch, but if you’re Chicago Orlando
looking to add a clean finish to a raw edge, go for a zigzag stitch Boston Miami
using a sewing machine. San Francisco Seattle
Philadelphia Atlanta
In our hand sewing and sewing machine stitch guide, we’ll review Houston Phoenix
the many different sewing stitches and even discuss seam Austin Dallas
finishes. Follow our tips and tricks, and if you’re looking for even Indianapolis Las Vegas
more information, check out these helpful sewing resources, too.
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Also, if this is your first time dabbling in the world of sewing, you
may want to brush up on some sewing terms and vocabulary. For
instance, before you can excel at basic sewing stitches, you’ll
need to know the difference between a sem and a hem.
Running Stitch
The running stitch is one of the most basic types of hand stitches,
and it has many variations. It’s used for gathering, mending, and
tucking. Depending on its use, you can either knot your thread
or take a couple of back stitches to lock it into place. In its longer
form, it becomes a basting stitch.
Bring your needle through the fabric from the back (wrong side).
Once the knot hits the fabric, make a stitch to the left or right.
Bring the thread back up and repeat.
Basting Stitch
Use the same technique as the running stitch, but make longer
stitches (between 1/4 inch and a 1/2 inch).
Today, we tend to pin baste more than hand baste our garments
and projects, but hand basting can still be useful, especially with
both lightweight (silk and chiffon) and heavyweight (leather and
Melton) wools.
Backstitch
Working from left to right, take a small stitch, then insert the
needle at the end of the previous stitch, bringing it out beyond the
point where the thread emerges. Continue, always inserting the
needle in the end of the previous stitch.
Catch stitch (Cross-Stitch)
You can use this stitch to to finish hems with fabric that doesn’t
fray, and to tack facing invisibly.
Working from left to right, take tiny stitches on the hem, and then
on the garment. Keep the stitches loose and even. They will
appear as crosses on the wrong side and small stitches on the
right.
Slip Stitch
Bring the needle through the fold of the hem and pick up a thread
of fabric at the same point. Make the stitches about a 1/2 inch
apart and fairly loose.
Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric, then with the
right side facing upward, insert the needle from back to front
right side facing upward, insert the needle from back to front
through the fabric 1/8 inch from the edge. Wrap the working
head around behind the eye end of the needle, then behind the
point. Pull the needle through, bringing the knot to the fabric
edge. Continue, making closely spaced stitches and knot.
You can use the straight stitch for seams, under stitching, stay
stitching, and simple top stitching.
ZigZag Stitch
The zigzag stitch provides a clean finish to raw edges, and you
can use it as a finish technique in combination with a stay
stitching line. You can adjust both the width and length of this
stitch to fit the needs of your project. For example, use this stitch
if you’re hemming jeans with a sewing machine.
Buttonholes
Seam Finishes
Now that you’ve got the hang of the different sewing stitches, it’s
on to seam finishes. You will use seam finishes to prevent fraying
and ensure that the seam will survive wear and tear. Before
choosing a specific seam finish, consider the type of fabric, the
strength and type of seam you want, and the way you want your
strength and type of seam you want, and the way you want your
seam to look.
Zigzag
You can use a zigzag finish on most types of fabric. Once the
seam is sewn and pressed open, zig stitch the raw edge and and
trim away the excess. The width and length of this can
vary depending on the fabric weight. There is a variation where
the seam-edges are trimmed to half their depth, zigzagged
together, and pressed to one side.
This is mainly used on crisp cottons. Fold and press the seam,
allowing a 1/4 inch, and machine stitch along the folded edge to
finish. The seams are then pressed open, or to one side,
depending on the pattern’s directions.
Bias Tape
Using purchased 5/8 inch bias tape, enclose the raw edge with
the tape and stitch through all layers. Commercial bias tape
is slightly wider on one side; that side should be on the
underneath the fabric.
Pinked Seams
Hand Overcast
Taking very loose stitches, overcast the raw seam edges by hand.
Top Stitch
Top Stitch
The top stitch creates a hard hem line, and can be used to
strengthen a seam or as a decorative finish.
Press the seams opens and then stitch in place from the wrong
side. The seam are often pinked beforehand, sometimes with
a contrasting bobbin thread.
Post Author: Cathy G.
Cathy teaches sewing, and designs
clothing and knitwear in Astoria,
NY. An all-around crafty gal, she
can drape and draft patterns, hand
spin and weave, embroider, make
lace, and style
wigs. Cathy graduated with a
degree in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College.
Learn more about Cathy here!
1. Linda says:
October 28, 2015 at 12:50 am