ladyjanewriter
07-26-2007, 04:55 PM
:) OK, I noticed a couple of posters don't know how to sew...yet.
I swear that I know only 2 stitches really, really well, but it can really help you in the long run.
Here goes. Pay attention:
STITCH 1: RUNNING STITCH. Corrine demoed this in one of the Threadbanger episodes, but sometimes it's hard to see what people are doing. Here's a nice link about the running stitch:
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/running.html
1. Thread your needle.
2. Tie the knot at the end of the thread.
3. Start from the bottom side of the fabric, and poke your needle through. Your needle point is pointing up towards your face. Try not to stab your thumb.
4. Move a little bit of space over the top part of the fabric, stick needle into the top part of the fabric. The needle point will be pointing down towards your lap. Try not to stab your other fingers.
5. Pull the thread and needle thru under the bottom part of the fabric.
6. TA DA! You've made a stitch! Over, Under, Over, Under, Over, Under. Try to keep the stitches even and kind of small. It should look like a dotted line. Don't forget to knot the end of your thread. ;)
7) At the end, snip the thread, leaving enough to tie off the loose ends. Give yourself more than you'd think you need.
STITCH 2: WHIPSTITCH (or OVERCAST STITCH...they're pretty close).
This page shows a good drawing of a Whipstitch. Scroll down a bit to where it says "whipstitch.":
http://www.sewing-from-home.com/how-to-hem.html
1) Thread your needle.
2) Don't forget to knot the end of the thread. :D
3) You will have 2 pieces of fabric against each-other. Kind of stacked like sheets of paper. Make sure the edges are even. Pin them in place so they don't slip.
4) OK, now pick up your fabric that's pinned together. You are gonna work back to front, got it?
5) OK, at the back of the fabric (the side away from your face), you are gonna poke the needle thru, and pull the thread all the way through. If you do this right? The knot will be on the back side.
6) You're gonna do a loop-de-loop like a roller-coaster loop next. Pretend the needle is a roller coaster car that's gonna jump over the edge of the fabric - front, to back. (Woo! Heh.)
7) Take your needle, and loop the thread over the fabric edge. No matter what, your needle will always be poking thru the back of the fabric. And then the needle point will point at you.
8) Pull the pointy needle towards you (without poking yourself in the eye).
9) At the end, snip the thread, leaving enough to tie off the loose ends. Give yourself more than you'd think you need.
I swear that I know only 2 stitches really, really well, but it can really help you in the long run.
Here goes. Pay attention:
STITCH 1: RUNNING STITCH. Corrine demoed this in one of the Threadbanger episodes, but sometimes it's hard to see what people are doing. Here's a nice link about the running stitch:
http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/running.html
1. Thread your needle.
2. Tie the knot at the end of the thread.
3. Start from the bottom side of the fabric, and poke your needle through. Your needle point is pointing up towards your face. Try not to stab your thumb.
4. Move a little bit of space over the top part of the fabric, stick needle into the top part of the fabric. The needle point will be pointing down towards your lap. Try not to stab your other fingers.
5. Pull the thread and needle thru under the bottom part of the fabric.
6. TA DA! You've made a stitch! Over, Under, Over, Under, Over, Under. Try to keep the stitches even and kind of small. It should look like a dotted line. Don't forget to knot the end of your thread. ;)
7) At the end, snip the thread, leaving enough to tie off the loose ends. Give yourself more than you'd think you need.
STITCH 2: WHIPSTITCH (or OVERCAST STITCH...they're pretty close).
This page shows a good drawing of a Whipstitch. Scroll down a bit to where it says "whipstitch.":
http://www.sewing-from-home.com/how-to-hem.html
1) Thread your needle.
2) Don't forget to knot the end of the thread. :D
3) You will have 2 pieces of fabric against each-other. Kind of stacked like sheets of paper. Make sure the edges are even. Pin them in place so they don't slip.
4) OK, now pick up your fabric that's pinned together. You are gonna work back to front, got it?
5) OK, at the back of the fabric (the side away from your face), you are gonna poke the needle thru, and pull the thread all the way through. If you do this right? The knot will be on the back side.
6) You're gonna do a loop-de-loop like a roller-coaster loop next. Pretend the needle is a roller coaster car that's gonna jump over the edge of the fabric - front, to back. (Woo! Heh.)
7) Take your needle, and loop the thread over the fabric edge. No matter what, your needle will always be poking thru the back of the fabric. And then the needle point will point at you.
8) Pull the pointy needle towards you (without poking yourself in the eye).
9) At the end, snip the thread, leaving enough to tie off the loose ends. Give yourself more than you'd think you need.