A detailed guide to the most popular types of stitches and lines for beginners, which covers the technology and provides pictures of the appearance of the seam.
The appearance of the finished product depends on the quality of the stitches, which can be done by hand or on a sewing machine. Different types of stitches are suitable for different types of fabric and purposes of use, and it is very important to choose the right one for a specific product. The simplest stitch is called a straight stitch – it consists of small, even stitches going forward along the fabric.
Types of hand stitches and lines
Even with sewing machines, craftswomen often sew by hand, because handwork allows them to implement especially delicate and complex ideas into life. Let’s see what types of stitches are most often used when sewing by hand with a classic needle.
Straight or “forward needle”
One of the simplest and fastest stitches, used to join fabrics, hem hems, or transfer marking lines. Consists of small, even stitches running forward across the fabric.
To create this stitch, pierce the fabric with a needle and bring the thread out in small, straight steps, alternating between the visible and hidden parts of the stitch on the fabric. The needle passes up and down the fabric at equal intervals.
“Back the needle”
The backstitch is very strong and is considered one of the most reliable hand stitches. It is ideal for securing the beginning and end of a seam to prevent it from unraveling and is also useful for joining pieces in hard-to-reach places.
To create such a seam, pull the needle to the front side of the product, stepping back a little from the edge. Make a small stitch in the opposite direction. Repeat the steps, but this time pull the needle to the front side again, stepping back 2-3 mm along the seam.
The main rule: the needle is inserted each time at the end of the previous stitch and brought out one stitch forward. On the back side, the stitches are twice as long as on the front side.
Loop or overlock
The buttonhole stitch, also called overlock stitch, is used to protect the edges of fabric from unraveling. It can be used to overcast open edges of bed linen, curtains, or the edges of slit buttonholes. Professional buttonhole stitches are indistinguishable in appearance from overlock stitches.
To create a buttonhole stitch, pierce the fabric a short distance from the edge, form a loop of thread on the front side, then pass the needle back through this loop and tighten the thread.
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Blind stitch
A hand sewing technique that allows for virtually invisible stitches to be made on fabric, often used to join two pieces of fabric together without being noticed.
To make a hidden seam, you need to take a thin needle and thread that matches the color of the material. The visible part of the seam must remain hidden inside the fold of the fabric. Here’s how to sew this way:
Insert the needle and thread into the edge of the fabric that is already folded over.
Pull the needle through the adjacent layer, trying to catch only one thread from the top layer.
Move the needle back into the fold of the top fabric to hide the threads in the folded area.
Make a long stitch, about 1 cm, moving the needle forward inside the fold.
Pull the needle out and start over.
Upon closer inspection, you can see only small areas of individual threads along the hemline, making the seam almost invisible.
Goat or Herringbone stitch
The seam is used to join parts that can move relative to each other. It is suitable for sewing a lining to the main part of a garment or for finishing the edge of knitted materials.
Here’s how to do it correctly:
You need to sew from left to right.
On the top layer of fabric, make a small stitch, stepping back a little from the edge.
A similar stitch is made on the bottom layer of fabric.
Move the needle diagonally to the right.
Continue sewing, repeating these steps as you move forward.
Types of machine stitches and lines
Although modern sewing machines can have many or even dozens of types of decorative stitches, it is possible to identify the most common types of stitches that are used more often than others.
Machine stitches in sewing are divided into two main types: shuttle and chain. Externally, they may be almost identical, but the technology of creation is different:
The chain stitch is created by forming loops. It is often used to create overlock stitches and is suitable for stretchy fabrics due to its stretchability. They are also ideal for creating invisible stitches.
The lockstitch is created by interlacing the threads, so it requires at least two threads. The stitches made with this method will not unravel, even if the threads break.
Straight stitch
A simple and versatile stitch that is used more often than others. The appearance of straight lines can be changed depending on the task and material, shortening or increasing the stitch length. Consists of single straight lines following one another.
Zigzag
The zigzag stitch goes from side to side with varying widths and lengths. It can be used for finishing seams, and appliques, or for sewing elastic to clothing. It is useful for finishing edges and preventing them from unraveling if you cannot use an overlock. Allows you to sew with elasticity, which is good for stretchy fabrics.
Overlock stitch
This type of stitch imitates the work of an overlock, but only in appearance. Unlike an overlock, it does not cut the raw edge of the fabric, so you need to carefully trim the edges beforehand and place them evenly under the foot. Most sewing machines come with a special foot for sewing this stitch, which prevents the edge from rolling and aligns the fabric, but just in case, make sure it goes evenly.
Blind stitch
This popular stitch is available even on the most basic sewing machines. It is used to neatly and invisibly hem a garment or join two pieces of fabric.
To make the seam invisible, you need to fold the fabric correctly. Leave an allowance of about 0.5 cm on the wrong side and place the fabric so that in the extreme left position the needle pierces only the edge of the fold. Sew slowly, directing the fold into a special slot on the machine’s foot.
After sewing, when the fabric straightens out, only small dots from the needle punctures are visible on the front side. If the thread is exactly matched to the color of the fabric, the seam will be invisible.
If the needle catches too much fabric while sewing, you can easily adjust the needle position using buttons on electronic machines, and using the stitch width regulator on electromechanical models.
Butt weld
A butt seam is used to beautifully and inconspicuously join two pieces of fabric or to join thick fabrics without creating additional thickness. For convenience, it is worth using a special foot that facilitates the stitching process, but experienced craftswomen can make a butt seam without special devices.
Before starting work, place paper or a special lining material under the fabric. The fabric parts are attached to this lining, leaving a small distance of about 0.3-0.4 cm between them.
When sewing, it is important to move slowly, making sure that the needle passes through both pieces of fabric. When the work is completed, the paper is carefully removed.
How to Dye Clothes Yourself: Tie-Dyeing
Tie-dyeing clothes is becoming popular again. Let’s figure out what it is, how to dye things correctly, and what to wear them with.
T-shirts after dyeing using the tie-dye technique look stylish, bright, and very original – the multi-colored pattern is different each time, so you will never meet a person in similar clothes. The best thing is that the tie-dye dyeing technique is so simple that you can buy white T-shirts and dye them with your own hands in different colors.
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What is this technique: the history of tie-dye
The name of the tie-dye technique consists of two words – “tie”, i.e. to tie, and “dye”, which means “to paint”. These two words perfectly describe the technique of dyeing fabric in the tie-dye style – you need to tie the clothes in a knot and apply paints. After drying, an original bright pattern will appear.
Knot dyeing was first used hundreds of years ago in ancient China, India, and Africa. In European countries, the technique became popular in the late 60s and early 70s thanks to hippies. Using the tie-dye technique, they painted esoteric mandalas in rainbow colors on T-shirts. The image was very bright and memorable, so soon everyone began to decorate their clothes.
Twenty years later, the trend received a second life in the 80s and 90s with boiled denim.
DIY Tie Dyeing of Clothes
The best thing about tie-dyeing is that you can’t dye a T-shirt “wrongly,” because the result will be different every time.
The tie-dye technique for dyeing clothes is extremely simple – it consists of twisting and applying paint. It is precisely because the clothes are twisted differently each time that an original pattern is created – it’s like snowflakes, among which it is impossible to find two identical ones.
What you will need to create
Before you do tie-dye coloring, you need to prepare everything you need:
protective gloves;
several strong rubber bands;
white t-shirt made of 100% cotton;
dyes for tie-dye technique.
It is worth considering separately what paints are needed for the tie-dye technique. Special multi-colored sets for tie-dye are sold, but if you cannot buy them, you can use regular paint for clothes or even acrylic paint.
The package usually contains enough paint to paint several items at once, so don’t limit yourself to just one. You can invite your girlfriends and friends over to experiment with painting instead. You can use the same colors, but create different patterns on each item of clothing.
What fabrics and things are best to dye
Tie-dye looks best on casual clothing like a T-shirt, but it can be used on other items as well:
scarves;
fabric bags;
beach capes;
aprons;
bandanas, etc.
The only thing that matters is the type of fabric because the paint only works well on natural fabrics: cotton, viscose, linen, and silk. You can experiment with different fabric blends, but test them on a small piece first, as they may not absorb the paint.
How to Tie Dye an Item: Step-by-Step Instructions
Before you start dyeing, soak the item for 20 minutes in a soda solution – this will improve the distribution and fixation of the paint. To prepare, take 1 liter of warm water and 50 g of soda ash. Then squeeze it out and start dyeing immediately, without rinsing or drying.
Now let’s take a step-by-step look at each stage of dyeing clothes using the tie-dye technique:
- Twist the object so that all its edges are used – the final drawing depends on this step. Fans of the technique exchange examples of twisting and what the result will be. Some options can be found in the video at the end of the article.
- Secure the chosen shape with rubber bands or threads.
- Protect the work surface where you will be painting with film, and put on gloves on your hands. The paint is very durable, so protection will not hurt.
- Add water little by little to the paint container and stir until you get a fairly liquid mixture, but a rich color. Do not dilute too much. Prepare several colors at once, because there will be no time to mix them during the painting process.
- Apply tie dye paint to the T-shirt from all sides, and the pattern will differ depending on the technique chosen: dipping creates large spots, a sprayer creates more airy ones, and manual application of paint with a brush or sponge will allow you to control the pattern very precisely. The first time, try dipping the T-shirt into the paint – this is the easiest technique to get the first result.
- Remove and leave for at least 1 hour in a rolled-up state to allow the dye to soak in. The longer you leave it, the more intense the colors will be. Maximum time is 24 hours. Check the instructions for the dye for the recommended time.
- Rinse with cold water and wash on a delicate cycle to stop the dye from bleeding. Let dry completely and your original T-shirt is ready.
There are other dyeing techniques that allow you to get original patterns. For example, the ice tie-dye technique suggests laying a T-shirt out flat on a grid over a basin so that the item does not lie in a puddle, covering the surface with ice, and generously sprinkling dry paint on top.
The ice will gradually melt, and react with the paint, and the colored liquid will pass through the T-shirt. this will get multi-colored stains that look quite original and fresh.
In Russia, they simplified the tie-dye technique and decided to create a pattern on clothes with bleach. You need to twist a snail from a colored T-shirt in a classic way, secure it with rubber bands, and then pour a little bleach into the bottom of a plastic container. Using gloves, dip the clothes first on one side, then the other. You can pour it into individual folds to get a more pronounced pattern. Then leave it and wait until the fabric becomes discolored.
Rinse the shirt with the rubber bands under cold water to remove any remaining bleach. If you want a two-tone shirt, you can leave it as is, but if you want a more vibrant option, sprinkle paint on the rolled snail so that the bleached areas acquire a new color. Then follow the instructions above – wait 24 hours, rinse and dry.
What to combine tie dye print within clothes
The tie-dye technique is very simple, and the result looks very interesting and original. The randomness and unpredictability of the pattern make the clothes very attractive, but at the same time, it is necessary to combine them correctly with other wardrobe items.
You can’t use several tie-dye items in one look, because they will clash. Basic colors look best with bright multi-colored prints: white, black, beige, and dark blue. They act as an inconspicuous background that emphasizes the originality of the pattern.
What clothes can you wear with a tie-dye T-shirt:
High-waisted jeans in white, black, blue, or light blue, and sneakers and an oversized denim jacket will complete the look.
Pleated skirt in light shades with mules or espadrilles.
Classic-colored leggings look great with a tie-dye tunic.
spectacular look can be created with a long, light tie-dye dress – add sneakers, throw on a long denim jacket, a small leather cross-body bag, or a backpack.
Video: 6 ways to dye hair using the tie-dye technique
Timofey Malyarov shows 6 ways to fold clothes and apply paint to create completely different patterns on the finished product. Choose the option you like the most.
