Learn different stitches in hand sewing and the best hand sewing techniques!
Understanding the best hand sewing techniques and appropriate hand stitches gives everyone many practical benefits.
Not only can a sewer create projects by hand, but it is important that all people know the practical repairs and alterations that can be done with hand sewing.
Mending clothing
It is often necessary for one to mend clothing, such as replacing a button. This is a skill that should be taught to all teens. Look below for a tutorial on replacing or resewing a button onto a clothing item as well as making a hand sewn buttonhole.
Fixing small holes and tears allows clothing to be worn much longer than if it were thrown away with the first small hole. Find out about the appropriate needle to use in the handy link below.
Repairing clothes extends their life which reduces the need for new purchases. It’s also possible to turn old or damaged items into something new and functional by upcycling clothing.
Who hasn’t had a hem fall out or needed to adjust hems of store bought clothing? These too can be done by hand sewing with the appropriate stitches.
Scroll down to find the best stitches to use to fix a fallen hem or to adjust hem lengths.
Knowing how to sew basic hand stitches is a useful emergency skill as well. When traveling or going on outdoor adventures, hand sewing makes it possible to repair gear or create functional items.
Creative sewing projects
Not only is hand sewing an important skill to know, but it is also a wonderful way to create personal projects!
Sewers can create many decorative crafts along with unique items such as bags, bookmarks, and stuffies. Even something as large as a quilt can be hand stitched and hand quilted.
Handmade items make special and thoughtful gifts, and many of these can be created by hand stitching.
Embroidery stitches are shown below, as well as cross stitches that are used on cloth or plastic canvas to make wonderful handmade items.
Hand sewing special stitches allows one to add embroidery, patches, or embellishments to personalize clothing and accessories as well. Be sure to check out our page on sewing tricks and tips!
Another important aspect of hand sewing is that it is possible to save money by repairing, hemming and other tailoring of your own clothing. Most people are looking for ways to save money these days!
Take some time to scroll down this page to learn basic and specialty stitches and watch helpful tutorials to mend, craft, and decorate with different stitches in hand sewing.
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There are many ways of anchoring hand-sewing stitches. Learn 5 knots.
Sew Guide
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Learn how to do the blanket stitch with this blanket stitch tutorial. It's used as an edging to attach applique designs, finish felt toys and ornaments, decorate crazy quilts and more.
Needlepointers.com
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This blanket stitch by hand tutorial shows how to embroidery blanket stitch corners.
Needlepointers.com
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This tutorial is on how-to end the blanket stitch. The tutorial shows how to end the blanket stitch if you have two layers of fabric and if you have one layer of fabric.
Needlepointers.com
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Learn how to stitch the short and long blanket stitch which is a variation of the basic blanket stitch. This decorative stitch can be used in crazy quilts and appliqué in addition as a hemstitch on projects.
Needlepointers.com
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Learn how to buttonhole by hand using the buttonhole stitch.
The Spruce Crafts
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This tutorial explains how to hand sew a catch stitch. The catch stitch is a hand stitch commonly used for garment hems, but it can also secure two pieces of fabric together.
Grainline Studio
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Learn how to do an embroidery chain stitch to form a decorative outline in your embroidery work.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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Videos, pictures, and written instructions for two methods for the cross stitch.
Annie's Craft Store
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How to do the feather stitch. This is a hand-embroidery decorative stitch which creates a vine or branch looking line.
Needlepointers.com
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A tutorial showing how to do the half cross stitch on plastic canvas. This is a basic needlepoint stitch which is stitched diagonally over one bar.
Needlepointers.com
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Simply the first part of a cross-stitch which can be slanted in either direction.
Annie's Craft Store
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A basting stitch is a long, easily removable, temporary stitch. It's used to ease, gather or temporarily hold two fabrics together.
Needlepointers.com
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Diagram of how-to for various types of hand stitching, i.e. basting stitch, backstitch, blanket stitch, feather stitch, hemming stitches, and more.
Fiber Images
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This tutorial covers the basic tools, how to thread a needle, knotting the thread, basic sewing stitches and the finishing knot.
Instructables
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This tutorial is on how to hand-sew a backstitch. This stitch is a strong sturdy stitch resembling machine stitching in appearance. It can be used for joining two seams together or mending a seam.
Needlepointers.com
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This hand hemming stitch is practically invisible on both sides of the garment or project. Learn how to hand sew the blind hem stitch.
Needlepointers.com
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This article is a beginner's guide to hand sewing needles which will help you select the correct needle for your hand sewing project.
The Sewing Directory
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Here is an easy and fast way to fix an undone or fallen hem on pants or trousers with a sewing machine.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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Learn how to hand sew a button onto a garment or project.
Needlepointers.com
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When basic hand sewing you need to know how to tie a knot in the thread. Here are three methods - the Granny knot, wrap around finger knot, and wrap around needle knot.
Blossoms and Posies
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This blog post shows 4 easy ways to thread a needle.
A Beautiful Mess
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This tutorial by Easy Sewing For Beginners shows you how to use a needle threader.
Easy Sewing For Beginners
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This is an easy way to tie a knot at the end of a sewing thread.
Sempstress
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This tutorial will show you how to close on open seam on a pillow, stuffed animal and many sewing projects. The ladder stitch also known and the blind stitch or invisible stitch will finish an open seam so it is completely invisible.
Needlepointers.com
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Which needle should you use for a sewing project? Learn here.
Needles by John James
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If you have trouble threading a needle with floss or yarn, this method makes it easy.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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The overcast stitch - what? When? Why?
The Spruce Crafts
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With this tutorial, learn how to hand sew the overcast stitch.
Affiliate Link to Craftsy
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Instructions, illustations and video.
Annie's Craft Store
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How to secure hand sewing thread with a backstitch and securing knot.
Crochet N Crafts
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What is single thread? What is double thread? When should you use them? This article is a guide for you.
Madam Sew
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A rundown of the top stitches used in sewing.
Start Sewing
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Threading a needle can be frustrating. Here are some easy methods.
Sewing Guide
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Discover how to master the whipstitch with this simple tutorial! It’s a highly useful hand-sewing and overcast stitch that you definitely want to learn.
Diary of A Northern Belle
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Zigzag stitches are used to protect the raw edges of material. Follow this tutorial on hand sewing the zigzag stitch.
The Spruce Crafts
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