• The length of the thread should be about 18 inches.

• Don’t break the thread abruptly as it leaves nebulous ends. That may create a problem when you try to insert it in the eye of the needle. It may also damage the thread.

• It is better to cut the thread on a slant for easier threading.

• Hold the needle firmly using your fore finger and thumb in one hand and the thread in the other hand. Then guide it through the needle eye.

• The ending and the beginning of the threads should not be noticeable. The more inconspicuous it is, the better it looks.

• Before you start your hand stitching work, make sure that the beginning of the thread is secured. That can be done either by tying a knot or by making a couple of stitches in the same location of the fabric.

• Make sure, when a knot is tied to start a row of stitching, it should be very minute, locked, and tidy.

• In order to tie a knot loop the thread between thumb and forefinger and then pull the loop to the last portion of the thread to tighten.

• Threads should be secured when you are done with the stitching work. There are a number of ways to do that. Usually few small stitches are done on the same location or you can also secure it by looping the thread around the needle.

Depending on the need and the purpose, some stitching techniques use a single thread while you may also use double threads for some.

Double threads: These are generally used for purposes like stitching buttons or securing hooks. Your stitches need to be strong to hold a button or a hook to a cloth. To bring in that strength double threads are applied.

Long threads: This should be avoided because they get tangled easily and tend to break often. Some sewing experts recommend threads of length varying between 18 to 24 inches. However, it also depends on the quality of thread being used. Higher the tension created while stitching; greater would be the risk of breaking.

An Ideal Hand Stitch

The following are the points to remember for an ideal hand stitch.

• Clean finishes with no loose threads hanging here and there indicates neat work and your expertise. Even a beginner can be neat as long as he/she concentrates on his work.
• The length of the stitches should be same all throughout unless you have purposely made any changes.
• Stitches should not create any pucker on any side of the fabric.
• The project must appear neat and tidy. For that you have to try and hide the thread ends in-between fabric layers. A pro at hand stitching can perform smoothly but once you read through our articles even you would be able to stitch like a pro.

Some older machines make use of chain stitch but a modern sewing machine comprises of two threads. The basic stitch that a modern sew machine does is the lockstitch. A sew machine can make a great variety of plain or patterned stitches. The basics of machine sewing are the same in practically all sorts of models. The machinery that makes a sew machine work is fairly complex, relying on an assembly of gears, pulleys and motors to function properly.

A White sewing machine stands out for its excellence, novelty, and outstanding client service. Today, White sewing machine is one of the most frequently used models in the United States. It is a strong, ingenious, equipment, capable of stitching bulk materials that many modern machines are incapable of handling. In terms of quality, White sewing machines are ranked as a close second to those manufactured by Singer. The most easily found White sewing machine is the rotary model, which includes the Models FR, 41, 43 and 77.

The sewing machine needle for a machine has six parts:

• the shank
• the shaft
• the eye
• the point
• the groove
• the scarf

The sewing machine needles are the cheapest but the most crucial part of the sew machine. No sewing machine will make stitches unless it has an adequate needle fitted to it. The needle must have a sharp point and also be entirely free of any burrs, scratches or any other kind of damage.

Correct sewing machine needles are ideal for any sewing project. It must be of the required size with the right type of needle top for the fabric that will be sewn. You must fit it correctly on the sew machine. Due to negligence the sewing hook mechanism might get damaged.

Embroidery designs on various cloth materials have been popular with all ages over the decades. A good number of books on embroidery designs are also available in the market or you can also take help of some websites that are typically meant for embroidery designs. Not just on your dresses, you can also stitch designs on a number of household materials like curtains, bed sheets and counterpanes. Besides that, we can also stitch designs on handkerchiefs and towels that we regularly use.

Earlier, embroidery designs used to be hand-made. That involved a great deal of hard work and was also quite time consuming. With the passage of time and advancement of technology, the process has comparatively become simpler and expedient. The availability of embroidery software which comes along with an embroidery machine has made the work lighter and easier.

An embroidery machine is able to execute huge variety of stitches like the fill, cross, satin and underlay stitches. The bobbin and the spool forms an essential part of an embroidery machine. They are positioned inside a hook and helps in stitching. The backing and stabilizer in the machine provides support and gives stability to the piece of fabric that is being stitched. The embroidery software is of good help and helps to acquire the patterns and designs on the cloth material easily. Nowadays, high-tech embroidery machine is available that allows you to select your own design and you can also make use of fonts and lettering to personalize your product.

Machine embroidery designs usually starts with an artwork that can be modified into a digital format so that it is able to communicate with the embroidery machine. If you have adequate knowledge on how to select the artwork, you will be able to yield machine embroidery designs of better quality.

Machine embroidery designs are intensely used for branding of products, decorative purposes and also in the sectors of advertising industry, these days. The computerized machines used for embroidery purposes has almost become revolutionary since it is possible to input intricate designs in the machine and get the accurate copy of it on fabric. Machine embroidery designs are also used for personal sewing and embroidery work.

Check out the following tools that may ignite your interest:

The Hoop: This is a circular wooden tool that supports the fabric being embroidered. These hoops have brass screws. Use them to tighten or loosen the hoop as and when required. These hoops are available in different sizes.

The Needle: The art of weaving with a needle. That’s what is embroidery right? The entire process depends on the kind of needle you use. The size and the type of material must be in line with the kind of embroidery you intend to do. Your quality of work depends on the embroidery supplies that you use.

A Bobbin: Has your granny been looking for one? She might have as it is one of the most important tools that hold the thread reel. The stitch formation occurs from the top thread and the bobbin thread.

Let’s read through a brief of the three most fascinating embroidery patterns.

Disney embroidery

Disney characters are endearing and most kids adore them.

If your kids wish to see their favorite cartoon characters embellished on their apparels, all you would have to do is to stitch Disney embroidery designs on their regular outfits.

You can surprise your kids by gifting them a customized hat or any other dress with some Disney character designs such as Pooh, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Pluto, etc. embroidered on them. This won’t be a problem if you’re used to embroidering such designs. However, if it’s otherwise, you need to find a good number of Disney embroidery designs for your project.

The design must be simple yet beautiful. There would be a lot of options when it comes to Disney embroidery designs. It is better to select only those designs which you think you can do best without any difficulty.

Ribbon embroidery

Before you start with ribbon embroidery work you need to have the four basic things: Fabric to be used, a needle with a wide eye, ribbon, and your aesthetic sense. Ribbon embroidery is considered as an elegant form of hand embroidery work. Since ribbons of different colors, textures and designs are available in the market; today   you can create different embroidery designs on your ribbon at your own fancy and will. Ribbon embroiderers generally use silk ribbon or an amalgamation of silk and organza ribbon.

Embroidery digitizing

Embroidery digitizing usually take a piece of artwork like a photo, a sketch or a professionally drawn picture and transforms it into a language that an embroidery machine can comprehend and sew out.

Before you start with your embroidery digitizing you should know what type of embroidery software to use for the project. A number of embroidery digitizing softwares are available on the Internet. Once your program is ready, you can scan in the artwork you want embroidered and start digitizing the image.

One must procure right fabrics and proper quilting supplies before making a quilt. Most quilts are made of 100 percent cotton fabrics. Quilt blocks characteristically make use of a mixture of dark , medium  and light fabrics to generate the block patterns. A quilter also needs fabrics for a narrow inner border, a wider outer border, the quilt backing and the binding around the outer rim of the quilt.  For your first baby quilt you can also use what is called a “cheater quilt” top. This is a pattern or picture stamped on the fabric and is sold as the basic top piece or panel and not by the yard. Often there are coordinating fabrics to go with the panel as well.  There are generally enough different coordinating pieces to decorate an entire babies room. You will also use quilt batting which is the material used as a stuffing between the quilt top and quilt backing.

Some quilting supplies that one would essentially require to make a quilt are specific  needles and threads which are easily available in a quilting supplies shop.  A quilting ruler and rotary cutter are also an essential part of quilting supplies. The quilting ruler and rotary cutter will make cutting your fabric easier, more accurate and save you time. Quilting rulers are clear plastic rulers of different lengths and widths. The rotary cutter is a tool resembling a pizza cutter that is capable of cutting through several layers of fabric and is used in conjunction with the quilting ruler.  A sewing machine will be required even if you are stitching by hand. It is used to put your patchwork quilt together.

Hours of love  is invested in making a baby quilt which often becomes an heirloom that is passed down from one generation to the next.  A baby quilt is the best way to get started with quilting,  being that the quilt  is quite small .  Learning to create these one of a kind gifts on a smaller scale will help you from being overwhelmed when you decide to tackle a larger version.  Baby “cheater” quilt fabrics and quilt patterns with instructions can easily be found in fabric and craft stores as well as quilting shops. A popular baby quilt style is the “red work” quilt. It consists of only the outline of children, animals and the alphabet  in red embroidery. The entire quilt top can be put together in red, white and cream then the redwork done by hand before sandwiching the quilt together. Redwork patterns and books can easily be found along with other quilting books and supplies.

Natural fibers are generally used when making a baby quilt. Cotton fiber is ideal as there are fewer irritants and chemicals which could potentially bother a baby’s sensitive skin. Even a beautifully patterned baby quilt may not be used as much as you would like it to be if it is harsh and discomforting. Many baby quilts are made just to decorate the room and are displayed on the wall instead of used as a blanket. Be sure to make the quilt big enough to fit a crib. If made to fit the bassinet the baby will quickly outgrow the quilt.

Good luck , enjoy the journey and have fun learning how to create a one of a kind treasure .

Sewing seams is a simple task when the basics are known. All the practical applications can be used as decorative techniques. Sewing has five basic essential seams and each of them have its own purpose and a difficulty level.

It becomes important to keep in mind that, while sewing seams, pressure needs to be exerted on the fabric. There is no need of pushing or pulling through the machine. Rather it should glide with minimum effort and urging. Your hands should gently hold the edges of the fabric together and they should also maintain an even seam allowance. The fabric is bound by a single continuous seam, generally sewn in a straight line. Two pieces of fabric are joined and the seam allowance can either be pressed to the open or to one side. One can stitch from anything from pillows to pants.

Plain seam is the most used and also simple of all. If one can master the plain seam, he/she can also conquer the more advanced ones. Start off with this seam. Take it forward with the rest. Getting your basics right is very important for the art of sewing. Let this plain art be a stepping stone for the more complicated ones.

French seam is the best to use for a clean and finished look. It can be created by sewing one plain seam, then covering the seam allowance by pressing all the fabric to one side and sewing another plain seam. This technique is a useful way to prevent the woven fabrics like voile or organza from unraveling.

The welt seam is a great variation on the plain seam. It is used to add an extra bit of strength to the seams. It is achieved by sewing seams that are plain and pressing the seam allowance in any one direction and then a second topstitch is sewn from the fabric’s topside to lock the seam allowance. This seam works very well as a decorative inflection and can offer just the perfect touch to a yoke or a style line.

The curved seam is the most difficult of all the seams. It is the most widely used wherever a bust line or shoulder seam come together. The best way to learn this seam is with the use of pins to hold the fabric. You will have to start with a concave piece of fabric and clip the seam allowance every half inch. Care should be taken that the seam allowance is no clipped beyond three quarters of the way.

The flat-felled seam is the best for garments that will receive a lot of wear for example children’s clothing or jeans. It is very simple to sew the flat felled seam. First, you have to sew a plain seam and then press it open with the help of an iron. Then, press both the layers of the fabric to one side and trim the inner layer of the fabric to 1/8th of an inch. Press the top fabric layer under 1/4^th of an inch and then finally stitch this folded edge to the garment. You should keep the stitches as straight as possible, as they will be seen on the right side of the garment.

Sewing seams is not difficult at all if the basics are clear.

A tailor tack is a technique to “mark” fabrics by using a thread rather than markers or pins. Here’s what it looks like:

Its not a difficult task at all. Your knowledge about it would be worth the learning. Thinking how would this benefit you? Personally, I feel that gaining knowledge of anything keeps you better-off than others who don’t have that knowledge. Apart from my beliefs, some of the several reasons which would want you to know about tailor tacks are:

1.  In case you are using a slippery fabric, the pins might come out easily. Using a tailor tack allows you to continue your work without worrying about the falling pins.

2. The pins may perhaps leave a noticeable pinhole which is undesirable, especially in case of dear fabric like satin, silk and others.

3. There may be a shortage of available pins.

4. The need of the hour may be to accurately mark two or more layers simultaneously.

5. It provides a superior approach to “mark” darts, without using carbon paper and a tracing wheel which has the possibility of leaving ever-lasting marks on your piece of clothing.

How to make a Tailor Tack???

Here is how you can make a tailor tack. I have illustrated the procedure using a scrap of metallic fabric.

First, make a small stitch into the selected fabric. In case your material includes more than one layer, then make sure you stitch in all the layers. Also make sure that the ends of your threads are of equal lengths. This also does not require that you knot your thread.

Then, make a second stitch exactly at the same place where you did your first one.

Instead of pulling it tight, create a loop over the fabric’s surface as shown below:

Now, cut the thread such that you leave a tail of about three inches in length. If you have a quick look beneath the first layer of the fabric, you will notice that there are threads amid the layers. Be cautious while you are looking through the layers to or else you may pull out most of the threads and have to re-do everything again.

After having pulled the two layers, gradually and tenderly, cut the threads like this:

You will find some threads marking the spot on both on the top layer and the bottom layer. Move on with your sewing, leaving these threads.

You can pull out these threads once you are over with your sewing.

Try as you read but be careful. We do not intend to injure you.

Are you UNCOMFORTABLE while sewing?

Do you get EXHAUSTED very soon?

Do you have BACKACHES or STIFF SHOULDER while or after sewing?

Did you know that the right chair and the right posture may be a factor for all the above problems!

Yes, it is true!!! A comfortable, ergonomic chair can make sewing comfortable. It battles fatigue, aching backs and stiff shoulders consequent to sewing or machine quilting while sitting on poorly designed chairs.

For anyone who spends much time sewing while sitting at the sewing machine or even at machine quilting, must use a well-made chair. To be at ease while sewing and even after, select the right type of chair.

PROBABLE HAZARDS:

People tend to use uncomfortable shoulder, elbow, and wrist postures (See Figure below) while sewing because of improper chair height or position.

ü  People generally sit or stand for long periods in the same position, resulting in discomfort of the back and neck, and reduced circulation to the legs.

Ergonomic Chairs for Sewing should be Adjustable in Several Ways:

The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s standards for an ergonomic sewing chair include:

• Easy to adjust chairs so that the sewer has a comfortable posture
• Seat and back rest that tilt and adjust easily
• Padded back rest with rounded edges that supports sewer’s lower back.
• Gently sloped or “waterfall” front edge to help prevent the chair’s edge from pressing into the backs of the sewer’s legs.
• Cushioned and contour seat to distribute the sewer’s weight evenly and avoid creating pressure points.

Other Ways to Avoid Probable Hazards are:

Position the chair at a suitable distance from the sewing table so that the sewers can execute their tasks without pulling their elbows away from the body.

Back rest should be at a 90-100° angle to the seat.

The height of the chair should be accurate when the work surface is at the height of the elbow. Ideally, the feet should rest flat on the floor, and the knee should be slightly higher than the seat of the chair. For them who use a treadle or pedal, the seat may be a little lower.

Schedule regular, small breaks to stretch and/or adjust posture.

In order to pursue your hobby or work without any hassle, it is imperative that you understand the above heath hazards and make the required changes. Happy sewing.

Want to gift something exclusive? Here is a practical item which you can make easily while enjoying your way through learning. It is one of the most popular embroidery techniques, counted cross stitch.

A very innovative product of sewing- Pincushion. Pincushion is a small stiff cushion with pins stuck into it ready for use. Most of us associate pincushions with the tomato. A thing as simple as pincushions has evolved phenomenally. For the time being, lets focus on the traditional pincushion.

What do you need? You just need a few items which are available easily:

• Fabric (Aida is stiffer than even-weave but selection of sewing fabric is a matter of personal choice).
• Lining
• Design chart
• Thread
• Needle

To create this exquisite gift you just need to follow the steps:

1. First stitch the design using one half of the fabric.

2. Then with the design facing inwards fold the fabric in half.

3. Now stitch two sides of the fabric with a single strand of sewing thread. You can sew a 5mm seam using the holes of the fabric to guide you for a straight seam.

4. Turn the pincushion the right way out and push the corners with a pin to form a neat point.

5. Fold the lining in half twice and insert into the pincushion.

6. Finally turn the edges and sew up the openings with small neat stitches.

By following these basic steps you can make pincushions of different sewing patterns.

You can make pincushion with small pieces of Aida or even-weave fabric, which can be as small as 5.5” X 3” of fabric. For a bigger pincushion the dimensions can be increased but just ensure the design you stitch doesn’t hide. You can also use two contrasting materials and stitch them together.

So now you can make beautiful gifts using the small amount of fabric in your work box, which would have otherwise gone in the bin.