I have always been intrigued by the art of Sashiko, but I have never had a chance to learn more about it. This article from Koekoek was just what I was looking for. It is a nice introduction to th…
In today's culture of disposable fashion, the simple art of basic darning and mending has been all but forgotten.
Sashiko Stitch Instructions for beginners A trend in embroidery: Sashiko stitching and visible mending. This ancient Japanese craft is easy to learn. It gives quick results and makes stunning textile pieces. In this tutorial we explain the basics you need to know about Sashiko stitching. We share our recommendations for Sashiko materials. You will also
Stitching lace insertion to fabric is the first technique that we learn when I teach heirloom sewing by machine. This is not a strong applic...
When you’re working with lightweight fabrics, a French seam is often the finish of choice. But if there’s a side-seam vent, you need a way to neatly end the seam…
Are you new to machine quilting? You may have made tied quilts for a while and now want to explore machine quilting. I’ve seen a lot of advice given for how to machine quilt but I think mos…
How do you decide which darning/mending technique to use? Some questions to consider: -is the patch going to be visible or will it blend in? -what type of garment are you repairing? -how much time do you want to spend mending? When it comes to mending, there is never an exact yes or no answer. It is (almost) always th
See how to do an invisible stitch by hand, using the so-called ladder stitch, slip stitch, or even blind stitch. Easy and quick!
And the new portion of needlepainting tips has arrived! This time let's take a look at an “alternative method” of long and short stitching! I stumbled upon this method not a long time ago. Frankly speaking, I've never seen it anywhere before (and I've examined quite a number of sources ever since I began stitching) and only accidentally bumped into it in summer, I think. This method was presented as one of the ways for long and short stitching, but, personally, I disagree to an extent and have my own thoughts on this “method”. But let me share the tutorial first and then we will discuss it :) Tutorial To put it simply, in this method you use 2-3 (numbers are debatable, that's just an example) colors of thread to fill a shape in long and short stitch. Then you add extra colors in between the existing rows of colors. So, for example, you can use 2 colors and then add 1 between them. Or 3 colors and add 2 more, each one between the original “foundation” rows. Let's take a closer look to understand better. So, the first thing we do is actually fill the shape with the long and short stitch using “foundation” colors. As you see, the colors here are pretty far from each other in tints, so the border between them is very evident. I already talked about how hues and tints can affect the shading in needlepainting in this post, so check it out if you haven't yet. Next, we need to add a couple of extra colors to the existing long and short stitching, using the tints that fit in between the base colors. Now, a bit of technical side. You know the importance of keeping the same direction when you work long and short stitch, right? So, to not go astray in your stitches, I recommend working a few guidelines first. And then fill in the gaps between the guiding stitches. Now that your stitches are out on the surface and won't be covered by the next row, make sure to vary them well at the bottom. So, here is our first extra row of stitches. I worked the full row with stitches close tight together as I would usually do in typical long and short stitching. But with the second extra row, I just added stray stitches here and there and let them mix in naturally. The reason why I did the two “extra” rows differently, is to show you how the surface of the stitching looks after adding them. The first extra row now kind of “bulges out”, if you know what I mean. It sticks out and you can see well that the stitches were made on top of the previous layer of stitching. While the second “extra” row lies flat and doesn't stick out in any way. Here's the final result. Let's discuss As it is one of the “methods” of long and short stitching, I felt the need to speak about it. But truth be told, I don't see any real value in it apart from a few occasions. Mainly, when you have a difficult shading project in your mind and you know what the “base” colors would be, but you are still not sure about the additional finer hues you're going to add. Like in painting, when you lay some base colors and then add more and more brush strokes carving out the details. But even in such cases, it is probably more of the situation with the second extra row, where you add some stitches randomly here and there to enrich the palette and smoothen the blending. Which, again, I can hardly call an “alternative long and short stitch method”. Just a simple side technique. Otherwise, if you already know the colors you are going to use, if you have the map of shading planned in your head, I would NOT recommend using this method. The cons are: The extra rows you work will probably stick out. It will be difficult to maintain the direction of stitches through all of the rows. If you went just a little astray in your second and third rows of the “foundation”, it still might be not as noticeable. You can let it slide. But if a new row comes in between the two when they are already not perfectly aligned, it's going to make things look chaotic. Lastly, you simply waste your thread? Why would you need to make longer rows of “base” colors which will be later covered, if you can just go row by row in a more organic way and spend exactly as much thread on each row as necessary. Sorry if this post was not as helpful as you'd expect and doesn't have any new tips. But if you look closely, you can draw some useful conclusions from this article for your needlepainting! I guess the main tip of this post would be to pass by unnecessary “alternative methods”, haha. Not all of the alternative methods are useless, though! Just try things out and analyze, think whether this or that technique is worth it. I was pretty excited to discover this method because I've never met an “alternative way” of long and short stitching. But as I tried it, I realized why it was my first time hearing about that and why I've never seen it before, haha. Or another casual tip: try to maintain an even surface of your long and short stitching by avoiding throwing in a “patch” of closely situated new stitches on top of the existing ones. Maybe my images don't reflect it that well, but when stitches bulge out it is really visible and spoils the smoothness of shading. Okay, I promise to make the next post contain the real tips! Meanwhile, share if you have any troubles or questions about long and short stitching and needlepainting. If I haven't written about it before, I might make a post to help you solve it!
How to Sew a Round Hem: Hello everyone !I am glad to share this technique with you today. If you have visited my website, you have probably noticed I really like circle skirts. In fact, most of my favorite free patterns are using this technique. For example, I have used …
One of the design issues we’ve encountered relates to making a sweetheart neckline. Sometimes the neckline V at center front would not be as sharp as we wanted it to…
Take your sewing projects to the next level using these sewing tips and tricks.
Would you like to know how to sew an invisible zipper fast and simple? Are you intimidated by sewing the invisible zipper? Let me show you the fastest and easiest way to insert an invisible zip that eliminates the need for pins and basting. You don’t need to fumble with pins, baste the zipper or press the zipper teeth flat before starting. This technique will help you to eliminate common problems and get professional results that you will be proud to show off.
In this tutorial I'll show you a great technique for how to start hand sewing without a knot.
No need to fear sewing with lightweight, sheer fabrics when you learn these techniques for creating beautiful seams and hems.
Make sure your dart hits in the right place by adjusting the bust apex on your sewing pattern
I love ombre. Whether it’s on a dress, or on a wall, I just love the effect. And for a while now I’ve been mulling over the idea of creating an ombre embroidery sampler. (I should add h…
I saw an easy version of making rug from old t-shirts, and search how to braid the straps, and get the detailed steps from sewingforlife, this is much easier by braiding and sewing. Materials: Old t-shirts Scissors Needle and thread Sewing machine I can see this being a welcome mat or even a soft […]
Embroidery is the very first craft I ever learned. It was de rigeur at my…
Invisible finish or in other words Invisible fasten off is a crochet technique to join stitches together and fasten off the yarn usually when crocheting in round. Traditional method to end the round is to join last stitch of the round with top of first stitch using slip stitch. Then to fasten off you cut the yarn,...
3 Step Kimono: Make a simple kimono with only 3 stitches.....Super easy and a terrific look for all of your music festivals this summer!
This is a pouch that would be great to make with or for children.The process by which the fish are shaped will be very interesting and fun.Try this easy
Learn how to make a gathered ruffle with this step-by-step tutorial including video.
I'm aware of two main methods of adding trapunto to hand quilting. Since most of my quilt is already quilted, I've been left with just one o...
For the longest time I avoided satin stitch at all costs. What was the point? A machine was always going to do a better job than I could - why put myself through the painful process of trying to make perfect stitches when they will never truly be perfect? Did you know that perfectionism is really just a form of procr
On Friday I mentioned that sewing certain seams annoys me. I never wrote about it because I’m too picky but based on a vote (2 for, none opposed, that’s democracy for you), we’ll discus…
Have you fallen in love with a pattern, only to find that it doesn’t come in your size? A few ladies told me that Itch to Stitch’s patterns don’t come in their sizes – some are smaller and some are larger than the measurements. Perhaps you have a tween who is not quite big enough to […]
Also known as: bullion stitch, caterpillar stitch, coil stitch, knot stitch, post stitch, worm stitch, Puerto Rico rose, grub knot This is an interesting stitch used to make simple motifs. I would say that this is an ‘elongated’ knot which can be...
Are you having punch needle problems? Maybe you find yourself wondering how do the loops even stay in the fabric? You've got questions, I've got answers!
DIY Fabric City Gym Shorts Free Sewing Pattern
Learn how to install an invisible zipper properly on a pillow in this step-by-step tutorial by Jona Giammalva. -Sewtorial
Try this variation out the next time your project calls for a blanket stitch.
There actually are zero-waste sewing patterns available for home sewing! I've gathered as many as I could find for you to try out!
*Update* I found the full article! Click here to read the whole thing on the Instyle website. The InStyle magazine Makeover issue on newsstands...
