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8 Essential Stitches
8 Essential Stitches

Here you'll find a range of stitches to give your work a neat or decorative finish, all in easy step-by-step.

How to do a running stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric, then bring the needle through to the surface to start the first stitch.

  2. Moving forward take the needle back down through the fabric and then bring up again. Keep the distance between the gaps and the stitches the same size and continue along the stitching line.

How to back stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric and bring the needle through to the surface to start the first stitch. Move a stitch length backwards along the sewing line, take the needle back through the fabric and then bring it to the surface at the end position of this stitch.

  2. Moving back along the stitching line, take the needle down through the same hole as the previous thread. Bring it to the surface for the end position of the stitch. Repeat along the sewing line to create even stitches.

How to do satin stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Start by securing the thread on the wrong side of the work. Pull the needle through to the surface on the base of the outline to be filled. Take the needle to the outline on the opposite side and push the needle back through to form a long, straight stitch.

  2. Take the needle down next to the end of the first stitch and under the work, bringing it back through at the start of the previous stitch forming a parallel line of thread. Repeat this process until the desired area is filled.

How to sew slip stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Working on the fold in the fabric, secure the thread with a double stitch.

  2. Pick up two threads of the fabric with the needle tip, then slip the needle through the fold of the hem. Bring the needle out 0.5cm along, then pick up two more threads of fabric before returning through the fold of the hem.

  3. Pull the thread lightly as you work to tighten the stitches, being careful not to distort the fabric which makes the stitches visible.

How to chain stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Bring the needle to the surface at the start of the sewing line. Take it back down close to where it came up, then return it to the surface at the end position of the first stitch.

  2. Take the needle back down, close to where it came up through the loop and bring it back up at the end position of the next stitch.

  3. Continue working along the stitching line, repeating the steps to create a chain of links. Finish by catching the final loop with a small stitch to secure.

How to blanket stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Secure the thread and working along the edge, bring the needle to the surface of the fabric.

  2. Take the needle through from the back of the fabric to the surface on the stitching line. Loop the end of the thread under the needle and pull through to adjust so that the stitch lies along the edge of the fabric.

  3. Repeat to create evenly spaced stitches along the fabric edge, maintain an even tension to avoid distorting the fabric.

How to feather stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric and work from the top of the stitching line to the bottom. Bring the needle to the surface and take it to the right before pushing it back through the fabric. Bring it back up below and halfway between the first two needle positions. Pass the thread under the needle and pull through, catching the thread.

  2. The next stitch is made by taking the needle down to the left and bringing the it up through the fabric halfway between the two needle positions. Pass the thread under the needle and pull through, catching the thread. Continue in this manner alternating the sides until the feathering is worked for the desired length.

How to sew stem stitch
8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches 8 Essential Stitches
  1. Working from left to right, bring the needle up to the surface of the sewing line to start. Take the needle down, a stitch width to the right. Bring it up halfway along and above the previous stitch.

  2. Make another stitch to the right, bringing the needle back up above the previous stitch as before.

  3. Continue working in this way along the stitching line.

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Know Your Overlocking

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Master French Seams

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Fix a Frayed Pocket

Fix a Frayed Pocket

A quick fashion fix with Amanda Bowden's classic miracle mend. The dread of torn stitching can be traumatic. Pockets are a common site of injury for catching on things, to say nothing of natural wear and tear as hands go in and out, and even the continued