Types Of Hand Stitches

Types Of Hand Stitches

Horizontal tears, vertical tears, diagonal tears, and more tears! We couldn’t forget repairing them as we learn this lesson all over again in our Livelihood Education during grade school and high school. Oh no, I’m not talking about the tears that flow down from our eyes. It’s the rips from our clothes that I’m saying! Well, those lessons is quite related on our topic for today. Perhaps, it’s similar because it both have needles, thread, fabric but no rips and no tears. Yes! No more tears! Because today, we’re going to discuss and make the different kinds of hand stitches. This is going to be fun, especially when you’re planning to make embroideries, patchworks and other handicrafts. Let’s get started! And oh, by the way, I used an Aida cloth for you to have a clearer view on the holes where the thread passes through.

 

Running Stitch

running stitch

As we should all know, running stitch is the basic stitch in hand-sewing and embroidery. We learned that this stitch is done by passing the thread in and out of the fabric. We should remember that when we do a running stitch, the seam and the spaces between them must have an equal length. I find this stitch very helpful especially when basting is needed. It is commonly used in tailoring, holding layers of fabrics together and patchworks.

 

Whipped Running Stitch

whipped running stitch

Are you thinking that it’s only people have the ability to whip? You’re wrong about that because our threads and needles here know that also! Whipped running stitch looks like a twisted cord that is good as a framework of a design. To do this, sewers should start with the basic, then they let another thread pass under the running stitch without going through the holes of the fabric.

 

Back stitch

back stitch

Like what its name says, back stitch let the needle step backward to form a straight and adjacent lines. Its like a running stitch without space. However, unlike running stitch, it attaches fabrics permanently. Look at your shirt and you will see back stitches in its ends, sleeves and neckline. The only difference is that this is handmade while the stitch on your shirt is created with the help of a sewing machine.

 

Outline Stitch

outline stitch

Aside from designing, most stitches are made to join fabrics, embroidery and such, right? In fact, I don’t just use outline stitch for cloths, but also for my notebooks. Well, for those who didn’t know this, outline stitch is similar to back stitch but with fineness. It starts with a long-but-not-too-long seam, then taking the needle backward into the middle of the first seam. Continuing this two steps will lead to a beautiful outline stitch.

 

Satin Stitch

satin stitch

If you need a solid and rigid seam, a satin stitch should be executed. It is a series of flat stitches that are used to completely cover a section of the background fabric. Didn’t you notice that the end of your pocket have this? How about buttonholes? Apart from these stuff, most of us create satin stitches to form different figures. Just like what I am trying to do here. I’m making a heart, honestly, even it don’t look like one.

 

Long and Short Stitch

long and short stitch

Upon looking on different stitches, we can easily identify which one is the long and short stitch, obviously because its name describes the stitch itself completely. As we can see, long and short stitch makes long and short lines alternately to be used as edging for handkerchiefs and the insides of garments. But didn’t you know that it is also great for filling larger areas and for doing a shaded fill, where you gradually change colors, in embroidery?

 

Cross Stitch

cross stitch

Will you believe me if I say that cross stitch is the first stitch that I ever learned? Not running stitch, not back stitch or anything else, it’s cross stitch. When I was in grade school, during my leisure time, I do pictures of angels, The Little Mermaid and people’s faces through cross stitch. Well, it’s easy! Making X-shaped stitches creatively in a grid-like fabric will result to a lovely handicraft.

 

Edge Stitches

edge stitches

The name itself says it all. Edge stitches are created to make borders on cloths. How to do this? I don’t know. I mean, I know, but I don’t know how to explain it. Okay, step one – let your thread pass through a hole on a folded edge. Step two – let it pass through a hole just above the hole next to the first one. Step three – let it pass through the hole next to the first one. Ugh! I told you. It’s hard. There’s a photo for you to understand better.

 

© Rex Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan