STITCH GUIDE

Use these basic hand stitches to complete your home and dressmaking projects.

LADDER STITCH

Used to join together and close two turned-under edges invisibly, such as on a dress lining or soft toy. Bring the needle up at 1 on one side of the seam, then in at 2 on the opposite side and out at 3, so the stitch is 3mm (1/8in) long.

Push the needle back in the opposite side at 4 and out at 5. Repeat this to close the edges.

SLIP STITCH

This stitch is used most often for hems where you need to stitch a turned-under edge to a flat piece of fabric using small, almost invisible stitches. Bring the needle up at 1 on the turned-under hem then back in at 2 and out at 3.

Make this horizontal stitch as small as possible so it can’t be seen from the front. Repeat this by making a vertical stitch back into the turned-under edge then continue in this way to complete the hem.

WHIP STITCH

Whipstitch is used to join the edges of two fabrics together, such as felt and other fabrics that don’t fray. With the right sides together, bring your needle out at

1 on the front of the fabric, then over to the back of the other, and through and out at 2. Continue to work small stitches close together over the top of the two fabric edges.

RUNNING STITCH

1 2 3 4 5 3 2

1 2 1

This can be used to gather fabric and as a decorative stitch worked around the edge of a finished project. Bring the needle out at 1, in at 2, then out at 3 and in at 4, and so on. Make the length of the stitches the same length as the gaps between them for an even finish. You can work several running stitches on your needle at once. 432 1