For those of you that don't hand sew very
often, are intimidated by it or you are
a beginner here are some very important
tips I'd like to share.
If you are going to hand sew, a thimble or
some type of finger protector is a MUST!
You will just give up if your fingers
become too sore! I use a
leather or hard rubber thimble when I
am sewing on heavier fabrics.
They are more flexible & much more
comfortable for me than a metal thimble.
When I sew light weight or cotton
fabrics I use a little round finger patch
(I buy them at the fabric store) that
sticks to the tip of my finger. They
are a bit sticky around the edges &
some times fall off so I put a
flexible band aid around it. They are
re-usable to. My finger is protected,
there is very little bulk, it's flexible
& it doesn't fall off!!
I always wax my thread!!
(Bees wax is available at sewing centers.)
I loathe a tangled thread, it's time
consuming & frustrating to try and
untangle a knotted thread.
For sewing with cotton I use Bohin French
needles size 9. I don't know if it is
the recommend needle but they are very sharp.
They are not too thick around, nor are
they too thin. It's hard to push a fat needle
thru fabric & I can't use a needle if it
gets bent. They are not too long nor too short.
I poke myself if a needle is too long and my arthritic hands fumble with a short needle.
They work for me & that's what counts.
I use a sturdier needle for heavier fabrics.
Curved needles for sewing hair on a dolls head
& a long long needle when I need to sew
through a dolls head. Embroidery needles
when I embroider & needles with a
bigger eye for button holes twist thread.
When I pin fabric together I turn the piece
over and sew from the other side. It is
very time consuming & frustrating to
remove thread that has become entangle with
the heads or tip ends of pins!
Here are some wonderful videos that are very easy to follow by The Brass & Morter Uniform Depot & Tailoring Shop.
Basics Of Hand Sewing
The Running Stitch
The Slip-stitch
The Back-stitch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N7mBMZ0uH0&feature=relmfu
Buttonholes & Stitches in Diagrams
http://www.cutterandtailor.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=779
Buttonholes & Stitches in Diagrams
http://www.cutterandtailor.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=779
Buttonholes
Video of a tailor making some awesome
hand sewn buttonholes on a jacket!
hand sewn buttonholes on a jacket!
I hope this is helpful.
Happy Sewing!!
Awesome. Is it okay if I post a link to your tips on my facebook page? I sew by hand a lot, and (although I just grew a callous instead of wearing a thimble) use pretty much all of these same techniques, there are some who could sure benefit.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Sherri.
Jan,
DeleteFeel free to post on your facebook page. I wish more people would try hand sewing....it is so gratifying!!!!
I'm so glad you shared these, Sherri. I use my grandma's old metal thimble, but on hot days it gets really sweaty under there! Usually I'm doing light sewing. I have a hard time finding a needle that isn't so fine that it pokes back into my finger on the eye end (ouch).
ReplyDeleteDixie
Can I post a link to this on my site www.handmadedollsandfriends.com ? I would like to make it a permanant link in our files too. We always love new methods to make dolls.
ReplyDeleteWanda