Sewing is a useful skill, as well as a great hobby. With just one needle and thread, you can sew fabric, patch holes, and create unique designs and patterns. It is a simple activity to learn, fun to master and that practically anyone can do
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Learn the Basics
Step 1. You must iron or pre-wash the fabric
If it's possible for it to shrink, you'll be glad you washed it sooner. Do this well in advance, as the fabric will need to be completely dry.
- Follow the specific instructions for that type of fabric. Whether you choose the washing machine, hand wash or dry clean, you should always follow the instructions.
- If you put it in the dryer and it comes out a little wrinkled, iron it. It will be much easier for you to work on it when you are sewing.
Step 2. Thread the needle
The more yarn you use, the better. Cut twice as much thread as you think you will need. With your thumb and index finger, grasp the end of the thread and insert it through the eye of the needle. Join both ends of the thread so that the needle is in the middle of the thread. Tie the ends in a knot.
Cutting the thread with sharp scissors and licking the tip can make it easier to guide the thread through the eye of the needle. Otherwise, the thread may be too thick or the needle may be too small
Method 2 of 3: Learning How to Sew Your First Straight Stitch
Step 1. Insert the needle through the wrong side of the fabric, that is, the side that no one will see
Pull the needle through (you may need to do this with a little force) along with the thread, until the knot touches the fabric. If the knot goes through the fabric, just make a bigger one.
- The reason to start on the wrong side of the fabric is so that this knot does not end in the visible part of a garment or fabric.
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If the knot passes through the fabric, it may be for one of these reasons:
- It is necessary to tie a larger knot.
- The needle could be too large and passing it would make an equally large hole, allowing the knot to pass through.
- You could be pulling the thread too hard when the knot gets close to the fabric.
Step 2. Pass the needle from the front of the fabric to the back, near where the fabric was pierced in the previous step, and again pass the needle through the wrong side
Keep pulling until you feel it stop. Congratulations! You have just made your first stitch on the right side of the fabric. It will look like a little dash.
The stitch should be tight enough so that it looks flat on the fabric, but not so tight that the fabric will show up underneath the stitch
Step 3. Repeat the previous two steps
Pass the needle back through the wrong side near the previous stitch, pull the thread all the way, and you're done! You have your second stitch. Continue in this way, trying to make the next stitch the same size as the previous ones.
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Generally, the stitches should form a straight line, like this:
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This type of stitch, with spaces in between, is called basting. It is regularly used to join two fabrics or several pieces of fabric
Step 4. Finish the last stitch on the right side of the fabric
You are done! The needle and thread should be on the wrong side of the fabric. Tie another knot to secure it. Tie the knot as close to the fabric as possible so that the stitches are not too loose.
Although there is another alternative, you can push the needle to the front and leave the stitch a little slack by creating a hoop on the wrong side. Then, insert the needle from the wrong side again, very close to the previous hole, and pull the thread tight enough, but not so hard that it tightens the ring you left earlier. Pass the needle through that hoop and now, tighten the knot. The hoop will tighten around the thread. Do this two more times to secure it well
Method 3 of 3: Learn Other Stitches
Step 1. Try to make stitches closer together
Basting, as described above, is a good start. However, the larger the stitches, the more likely they are to break or fray.
When basting, the stitch is quite long, whereas the strongest stitches have small or medium length. When you pass the needle from front to back, you should make the stitch as close to the previous one
Step 2. Try zigzag sewing
It is a stitch that is joined from one side to the other and is used when the straight stitch is not enough to reinforce the buttonhole of a button or when working with fabrics that stretch. It can also be used to join two edges, but only temporarily. It looks exactly like a zigzag (just as the name implies) and can be done in various sizes, with short, medium or long stitches.
A blind stitch is a variety of the zigzag stitch, also called a “blind hem”. It is very similar to the zigzag stitch, but it also includes several straight stitches, of the ordinary type. It is used to hem that is not very visible, as only the zigzag stitch shows on the right side of the fabric, but with fewer stitches, less visibility
Step 3. Learn to join two fabrics
If you dare to try, put the fabrics together and turn them so that the reverse is facing up (they must match on both sides). Join the edges of the two fabrics as long as they are even, you should sew in a straight line guiding you along the edge.
When finished, try to separate the fabrics. The stitching you just made will hold them together, but the thread will be nearly invisible. An easier way to do this is through the hem stitch
Step 4. Patch a hole
Sewing something that is torn or torn is not very difficult. Just push the edges inward (or backward). You must make a seam, make a short stitch (without spaces in between) to prevent it from breaking.
Advice
- If you are a beginner, you should use a thread that resembles the color of the fabric, but not the same so that you can see what you are doing and can remove it if necessary.
- Wet the end of the thread with your mouth so that it moves more easily into the eye of the needle.
- Try to match the color of the thread with the fabric, so that it is less visible in case you make a mistake.
- For more advanced stitches, use a sewing machine. With it, you can make decorative stitches more easily and thus achieve a better look.
- If you have trouble getting the thread on the needle, keep in mind that there are needles with different buttonhole sizes and also tools that will help you thread the thread.
- If you continually prick yourself with the needle, use a thimble.