National Sewing Month- 3 Basic Sewing Stitches

September is National Sewing Month, and this is a great time to brush up on some basic sewing skills. Hand sewing is an essential skill for all sewers and is a great way to begin learning how to sew.

In honor of National Sewing Month, Nick of Time Textiles want to help you learn three essential hand-sewing stitches:

Running Stitch- This is one of the most common stitches and is extremely versatile. The running stitch is the most used stitch for both machine and hand sewing.

• To create a running stitch, thread your needle and put the needle through the bottom of the fabric pulling it taut.
• Next place the needle back in the top of the fabric and continue repeating the pattern of in and out of the top and bottom of the material.
• To end a running stitch, flip the fabric over (bottom side) and put your needle through the material and through the last stitch pull it loosely to create a loop, then place your needle through the loop and pull it tight to create a knot.

Whip Stitch- This stitch is made up of short diagonal stitches on the edge of two pieces of fabric. This stitch works great for hems and blanket edges.

• To create a whip stitch, first thread your needle and create a knot on the end. Next, put the tip of the needle through the bottom of the top layer of fabric. The knot should be in-between the two pieces of fabric.
• Next pull the thread taut and put the needle through the underside of the second layer of fabric on the bottom bringing the needle through both pieces.
• Repeat this by pulling the thread taut and putting the needle through the underside of the second layer od fabric pulling it through both pieces.
• To end a whip stitch, pull the needle through the bottom layer of fabric but instead of pulling it through the second layer leave the needle in between the pieces of fabric. And loop the needle through the thread to create a knot.

Ladder Stitch- This stitch helps to close virtually undetectable seams. This is great for pillows or other projects that require a hidden seam.

• To create a ladder stitch, Create a ¼ inch fold on the edges of your fabric and iron them in place. Thread the needle.
• Next, pull your needle through one layer of fabric and create a know in between the two pieces of material.
• Next, pull the needle through the opposite side of fabric then pull it through the side of fabric again, like a running stitch. Repeat this on the other side and continue until you reach the end.
• To end a ladder stitch, place the needle through the bottom of the last stitch, pull the thread taut to close the stitch then insert the needle back through the top of the stitch and into the fabric. Pull the needle through either side of the material then cut the thread.

With these three basic stitches, you will be able to improve the quality of your hand sewing and learn the basics of sewing.

With a wide variety of fabric options from denim to silk, Nick of Time Fabrics has all the material you will need for your next project. Check out our $1 a yard fabric selection and place your order today!