How to make stitches with a needle: the rules of choice of thread and tools, types of stitches and their description

Every craft began with simple basics, which even with the development of humanity and the emergence of technology remain indispensable. This includes sewing. In such a case, the most important thing - performed stitches to connect or decorate the working fabric.

With the invention of the sewing machine and overlock has become much more convenient to sew and work the edges, especially on large products. However, hand stitches have not lost their popularity either, especially when sewing small items or embroidering with a satin stitch.

This article contains several types of these stitches, which will help beginners learn the basics or learn something new for experienced masters.

Basic rules of choice of thread and needle

Nowadays, there are many types of needles and thread, so it is worth carefully imagine and study what will come in handy in the work.

Types of needles by purpose:

1. Manual work. These needles are universal to use, come in different sizes and are suitable for all types of fabrics.
2. Quilting. Short ones with a round eye.
3. Knitwear. Needles with a rounded tip, convenient in the work, as they do not damage the loops.
4. Decorative work with thin fabrics. Blunted, short with a wide eye.
5. Masking holes. Long needles with a large eye for threading in several folds.
6. Embroidery. With blunt or blunt end (depends on the type of embroidery) and a large eye in the form of an oval.
7. Leather and leatherette. Three-edged tip.
8. Beads and beads. Slim and flexible needles of different sizes with narrow eye.
9. Furniture and decorative fabrics. Straight or bent with a large eye for threading thick threads.

Choosing a needle, you should consider the following points:

• The quality of the needle depends on the convenience of the stitches. Poor quality needles can be bent or have nicks along the entire length, which will spoil the fabric when working.
• The thickness of the material determines the thickness of the needle. For example, a thick needle will leave holes in thin fabric, so a thin and sharp needle will do.
• The thickness of the thread and the needle must match.
• Rusty needles will stain and hole the fabric, and bent needles will affect the evenness of the stitches. Do not use such needles for neat work.
• Match the needle to the type of work you plan to do.

Thread should also be tailored to the type of work. For temporary stitching, ordinary thin cotton threads that tear easily are suitable.

To firmly sew the parts take strong synthetic materials. Decorative threads are excellent for embroidery, and popular threads include mouliné.

Types of stitches

There is a large number of very different stitches. From basic, for binding parts, to decorative, allowing you to embroider entire designs and paintings on products.

Forward Needle.

The simplest and most basic stitch, it looks like a dotted line when executed.

Technique for execution:

• Secure the thread in a convenient way and insert the needle from the wrong side.
• A few millimeters from the introduction, also enter the needle, but from the outside.
• Then, again, take the needle out from the wrong side, away from the point of insertion.

This stitch is used when temporarily stitching parts or when decorating napkins, tablecloths, etc.

Back Needle

"Back of the needle" or stitching is a continuous row of stitches - a line.

Technique of execution:

• Secure the thread and make the first stitch of the desired length, then from the side of the removed needle, step back a distance equal to the two stitches made and insert the needle.
• Then point to the end of the first stitch and take it out the other side.
• So, the back stitches should be longer than the front stitches and overlap each other.

Such a stitch is very strong, so it is used for sewing zippers or patches, also as a substitute for machine stitching when sewing small items.

Invisible

The next seam - invisible or countersunk, hemming, allows you to neatly sew parts without visible threads, as it passes inside the fabric fabric. For its invisibility, it is worth selecting threads very close in color to the fabric.

Technique of execution:

• Fold the edge of the fabric from the wrong side and insert the needle into the edge of the fold.
• Step back a few mm on the diagonal and pick up a few threads with the point of the needle.
• Take the needle out and, a few millimeters apart, hook the hem edge again.

This stitch is mainly used in hemming the bottom of the product, sometimes for sewing details.

Inside .

Similar to a countersunk stitch, as well as remains invisible when properly performed and similarly matched colors of materials.

Technique of execution:

• Prepare in advance the 2 parts necessary to sew, tucking and ironing the edges.
• Secure the thread and put the needle in the bend of the bent edge, then pick up a few millimeters of fabric on the rib of the crease of the other part.
• In the same way, move to the first piece.
• It is important that the stitches are placed neatly parallel to each other, otherwise the seam will be uneven.

This stitch is mostly used for sewing details, from the front side it looks like a machine stitch.

Seamstitch

Quilting stitch or overstitching refers to the edge stitch, it helps to process the edges of the fabric.

Technique of execution:

• Tie the thread close to the edge of the workpiece and thread the needle to the front.
• Then thread the needle to the anchor point and guide it into the loop that has formed on the edge, pull it through.
• Repeat the action, stepping back a few millimeters from the stitch you made.
• Do not tighten the loops too much so that they pull the fabric. Pull moderately, the fabric should not be wrinkled.

A similar stitch is used for working the edges of crumbling fabrics and decorating details from fleece and felt.

Stitch

An analogue of the "back of the needle". When performing this stitch, you get a series of slightly diagonal stitches lying close together.

Technique:

• Secure the thread and make the first stitch as a "forward needle" stitch.
• Bring the needle to the front side near the middle of the first stitch, make another stitch.
• Continue until the desired length. It is important to leave the thread on one side and not change it, or the stitch structure will be broken.

It is mainly used in embroidering and decorating.

Tampering

A consecutive row of loops embroidered into each other. When performed evenly resembles a pigtail.

Technique:

• Secure the thread and bring the needle out to the front side.
• Make a loop and insert the needle at the beginning of the loop.
• Bring the needle to the front again, only a few mm from the beginning of the stitch, tighten. You will get such a thread drop. Continue until the necessary size.

You can do a zigzag stitch, placing the loops on different sides from the starting line of the stitch.

Cross stitch .

Represents two crossed stitches. When embroidering, it is important to make sure that the top "half of the cross" was in the same direction, otherwise the crosses will be different and the work will look sloppy.

Technique:

1. When embroidering on canvas, you can leave little tails and not make knots or fixes, then the back of the work will look prettier and neater without piling up the knots.
2. Make a stitch obliquely from bottom left to top right or vice versa, then overlap the resulting strip at the top perpendicular to the previous one.

If you need a lot of crosses of the same color, for quick embroidery make the lower halves first, then cover the upper ones.

Goat .

Bears another name "herringbone", looks like a cross with elongated halves.

Technique of execution:

• Secure the thread and make a diagonal stitch.
• Step back 2-3 mm from the end of the thread to the beginning of the stitch and bring the needle to the front.
• Make another stitch, facing perpendicular to the first stitch. Watch the tension of the thread.

A similar stitch is used when decorating cross stitch or when embroidering with a satin stitch, as a leaf and heart filler for flowers. Also used when stitching the lining with the main material, for hemming knitwear.

French knot.

Decorative stitch that looks like a small twisted spiral or flower.

Technique:

1. Bring the needle to the front side, wrap the thread around the needle, 3-4 turns will be enough.
2. Then introduce the needle at the beginning of the stitch. The knot is ready.

Use this stitch in embroidery when the cross is too big, and you need to fill the space, or as a separate element - a small flower. For example, such a stitch can be embroidered lilac sprig.

At first glance, hand sewing or embroidery seems very difficult. However, everyone can learn, the main thing is to choose the right quality materials and take your time with the stitches.

Photo examples and diagrams of stitches with a needle