12 types of hand sewing stitches

Many types of stitches can be sewn, either by machine or hand. These are step-by-step instructions on how to make basic stitches for your sewing projects. These hand and machine stitching techniques can be used to guide you, no matter if you are a beginner or an experienced sewer.

8 Common Hand Sewing Tips

1. Running stitch A long straight stitch is also called a running stitch or a basting stitch. This stitch can be used to hold two pieces together of fabric temporarily and can be removed later.
2. Backstitch – This is a basic stitch for hand embroidery that creates a straight line of stitches between the stitches.
3. Cross stitch – A decorative stitch consists of two straight stitches that cross at the centre. This creates an ex. The cross stitch is usually stitched on a special fabric that has a grid with tiny holes to guide it. Once the pattern is complete, the stitching creates a series of exes.
4. Blanket stitch – This is a visible decorative stitch-finishing technique. This stitch is used to finish the edges of pillows or quilts or in hand embroidery.
5. Slip stitch – The slip stitch is an invisible stitch that can be used for hemming. The thread should be the same colour as the item so that the seam blends into the fabric.
6. Catch stitch – The catch stitch is a zigzag pattern and invisible on the right side. This makes it ideal for blind hems. The catch stitch is an excellent flat stitch technique that allows you to sew two pieces of fabric together with some overlap.
7. Whipstitch – Whipstitch is a simple method of seaming that uses a line of diagonal stitches to create a line that is invisible on the right side.
8. Chain stitch A type of embroidery stitch which forms looped chains on the fabric’s surface is called a chain stitch. Here’s how to do a chain stitch.

How to do a Running Stitch

This video will show you how to stitch your fabric and then baste it.

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. Pull the needle through both layers of fabric.
3. The needle should be inserted through the fabric at a distance of about half an in from the last point. Pull through. This measurement can be adjusted to achieve the length you desire.
4. Keep going until you reach the desired length.

How to do a backstitch

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. To create the desired stitch length, feed your needle through the fabric from the wrong side to the right side. Then, go back up, from the right side to the wrong side.
3. Use the same length stitch as a guide and work your way up the fabric approximately one stitch from the last entry point.
4. Now feed the thread through the fabric right side to the wrong side using the last entry point at the end of the previous stitch. Pull through.

How to do a cross stitch

You can reduce the thickness of embroidery thread by using it. It is usually made up of several easily separated strings. It would be best to separate the strands to ensure that you only use three strands of the original thread.

1. Attach the thread to the needle and tie it in a knot.
2. The needle should be inserted through the hole in the bottom-left corner of the fabric. Next, feed the needle through the bottom-right hole in the square.
3. These steps can be repeated until all squares are in the first line of your pattern.
4. Once you’ve reached the end, feed your needle through the hole at the bottom right. Next, feed it down into the hole at the top-left. Keep going until you reach the square you began with.

How to make a blanket stitch

1. Attach the thread to your needle. Tie a knot at its end. You will need enough thread to complete the seam.
2. Two pieces of fabric will be cut with the wrong side facing each other and the right side facing out.
3. The needle should be inserted through the top fabric piece. Allow the knot to settle between the fabric pieces.
4. The needle should now be fed through both layers of fabric. Pull the thread through and when there is a small loop, thread the needle through it. Then, pull the thread tight to create your first stitch.
5. Continue moving along, approximately one stitch wide, and thread the needle from the back to the front. Repeat the above steps. It would be best if you kept the stitch width consistent and length constant throughout.

How to do a slip stitch

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. Start by removing the needle from the fabric’s underside edge. Then, work your way up the fold.
3. Place a small amount of fabric on your needle. Then, feed the needle.
4. You will need to place your needle back at the original entry point of the fold. Next, pick up some fabric along the fold. Continue moving in the same way as when you first picked up the little fabric.
5. You have just created your first slip stitch. These steps can be repeated to complete your seam.

How to do a Catch Stitch

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. Start your needle at the bottom of the fabric and work your way up to the top.
3. Next, move the needle left to right and grab about one-eighth of an inch of fabric. Pull to the left.
4. Take the needle and place it on the opposite side of the fabric. Now pull the thread through the fabric.
5. These steps can be repeated from left to right.

How to Whipstitch

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. Place the needle on the fabric’s underside and continue to the top. Then, hide the knot.
3. With the edges of your fabric together, with the wrong side facing you, stitch a short diagonal stitch along each seam.

How to Make a Chain Stitch

1. Thread the needle and tie a knot at its end.
2. Make a straight, short stitch across the project’s surface. Your thread should be fed through the fabric at the exact length you need it to.
3. Then, feed the needle through the first stitch and back through the insertion point.
4. These steps can be repeated, except that you feed through each loop instead of feeding through the first stitches until the end.

Four Common Machine Sewing Stitches

1. Standard sewing: This stitch is used to sew together pieces of fabric or topstitch them. Depending on the fabric, you can vary the length of your stitch. The average stitch length for cotton and quilting fabrics is 2.5-3mm. Use a shorter stitch for finer fabrics like silk and rayon. For stronger fabrics like canvas or denim, a longer stitch is recommended.
2. Zigzag stitches: A stitch that looks like it’s a zigzag is called a zigzag. It is great for finishing seams and stretchy sewing fabric. To prevent fraying and unravelling, it is essential to finish the raw edges. An overcast stitch can be used to finish the seam. However, a zigzag stitch is also possible.   
3. Buttonholes – The buttonhole stitch can vary depending on the type of machine. There are two types of buttonhole settings: one has an automatic setting, and the other has a four-step setting. This is what we will discuss here.
4. Blind stitch: This skill allows you to create invisible hems on garments.

How to do Standard Stitching

1. Select the straight stitch setting for your machine and choose your preferred stitch width. Use the standard presser feet.
2. Lower your fabric by placing it under the presser foot.
3. Your desired seam allowance will be indicated on the fabric’s edge. The seam allowance is the extra fabric between the seam and the edge of your fabric. A quarter-inch seam allowance is good for garment sewing or quilting.
4. Start pressing down on the pedal of your machine and begin to feed the fabric through your hands until you reach your desired length.

How to Do Zigzag Stitch

Choose the zigzag stitch setting for your machine. You can use a zigzag stitch with any length or width. Make sure you choose the right setting for your project. A zigzag stitch is approximately 2.5mm in length and 3-4mm in width.

1. Lower your fabric by placing it under the presser foot.
2. For the zigzag stitch, press your foot on the pedal of your machine.

How to Do Buttonholes

Place the button where you want it to be. Mark the bottom and top with a small dot. Draw a line with the dashes to create a capital “I.”

• To measure the size of your buttonhole, use the buttonhole sewing feet.
• After measuring, attach the buttonhole sew foot to the machine and place the needle where the capital “I” is drawn on the fabric. When you measure your button, ensure that the tack is in the same spot as it was at the time.
• Your machine should be set to buttonhole mode. Make sure that your stitch length is at least 1.5mm.
• Use “Step 1” to adjust the buttonhole setting on your machine. Sew six back-and-forth stitches over the markings on your fabric.
• Use “Step 2”, the buttonhole setting of your machine, to sew the marking on the left. This will result in very tight and precise zigzag stitches . Based on your measurements, the buttonhole foot should stop when you reach its top.
• Use “Step 3” to sew six back and forth stitches at the top marking of your fabric.
• Use “Step 4″ (on some machines, this may be the same as Step 2”) to sew the tiny zigzag stitches along the right side of your buttonhole stitch marking. When you reach the base, stop.
• Use a seam ripper to open the buttonhole. Thread pins are used to ensure that the buttonhole doesn’t get torn.
• The seam ripper should be fed through the fabric between two lines of zigzag stitches.

How to do Blind Hem Stitch

• Prepare the hem by first marking the area where the hem will be with a water-soluble pen or tailor’s chalk. Then press the iron to finish the job. Blind hems should be at most one-inch thick. This is why it’s a fairly deep hem.
• Place the hem.
• Select the blind stitch setting by using the blind-hem presser foot of your sewing machine.
• Place the metal at the edge of your fold, and lower the presser foot on the wrong side.
• Keep your foot on the pedal, and slowly stitch. Make sure that the blind hem stitch is caught in the fold.