Sewing Information Basic Hand Stitches

Back Stitch Make one running stitch, then take a back stitch to the beginning of the first stitch, thus overlapping each running stitch. Resembles machine stitching and is used to strengthen a seam made by hand.
Basting Basting is quite important in successful sewing. This is used to hold fabric temporarily in place, until permanently stitched. There are four types of basting; hand basting, machine basting, pin basting and basting edges with an iron.
Hand basting is made by making longer running stitches. A glazed or waxed thread that will not snarl is best, since usually a long length is used.
Machine basting is quite popular. Simply lengthen the stitch and loosen tension. It holds ruffles and gathers in place and helps to keep bias edges from stretching. Pin basting is used more on long, straight seams. Place pins at right angles to the seam edge with the heads of pins to the right, thus making it easy to remove the pins when stitching. Be careful not to pull or stretch fabric as you work.
Binding Use either bias tape or regular twill or rayon tape. Bias tape is good for rounded pieces of fabric. Twill or rayon tape is good for binding straight pieces of fabric. Crease the piece of tape in the middle and put the edge of the piece of fabric that s to be bound between the folds of the tape. Sew on the rape, being sure to catch both sides of it, with a running stitch.
Blanket Stitch Put your needle in 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric, put the thread under the point of the needle and pull through.
Blanket Stitch Long and Short Put your needle in 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric for the long stitch and 1/8 inch away for the short stitch, put the thread under the point of the needle and pull through.
Catch Stitch This is used for a flat finish next to fabric, such as seam binding on a hem. Hold open hem edge away from you, work from left to right, Take a stitch in the hem, then a tiny stitch to the right just beyond edge of hem with the point of needle to the left. This makes diagonal lined that cross each other.
Chain Stitch Insert the needle in and out of the fabric (as in the running stitch). Bring the thread under the tip of the needle while still in the fabric, then pull the needle through.
Hemming The open side of hem is held toward you, work from right to left, catch a very small stitch in the garment and a slightly deeper stitch in hem as shown. You want to achieve as nearly as possible an invisible stitch on the right side. These stitches may be close together for greater strength or spaced further apart.
Pressing seams with an iron is used mostly to hold straight edges such as pocket seams, yokes, or hems. Simply turn under desired amount and press.
Outline Stitch This stitch is similar to the back stitch but it is slanted. Make one slanted backstitch in front of another letting each one overlap the one before it just a little bit, until the design is filled.
Overcasting This is the sewing over and over of edges to prevent raveling and fraying. Work from right to left and make stitches about 1/8 inch deep and 1/4 inch apart.
Running Stitch To make this stitch, push point of needle in and out of fabric until you have several stitches on the needle. Hold fabric taut with left hand, pull the needle through. Practice until you make fine even stitches.
Shirring Cut a strong thread long enough to run the entire length of the fabric. Sew a fairly large running stitch in a straight line across. About 1/4 inch below this row make another row of running stitches. Take the loose pieces of thread at the ends of the two rows of sewing and pull them very carefully and slowly. When you have gathered the fabric to the desired width, tie the loose threads several times. Even out the folds.
Slip Stitch A kind of hemming stitch. The stitches on both right and wrong sides should be practically invisible. Take a small stitch in the garment, run the point of the needle in fold of hem about a quarter inch, pull out needle, take another small stitch in fabric and continue as before. Hems are sometimes slip stitched and linings are fastened to inside of coats in this manner.