How to sew a tea cozy: 4 stitching techniques every beginner must know

This is for those who can avoid the sewing machine as much as possible. Also, there are situations when hand stitching is necessary compared to sewing with a machine.

1) The even Back stitch:

This is one of the strongest hand stitches and can be used when you want the same effects as a machine stitch.

Make three evenly spaced points at the beginning of the line. X, Y and Z. Push the needle and bring it out from the centre point Y.

Next insert the needle to the point which is to the right of the centre point that is point X and Push the needle out from point Z.

Continue the above for the rest of the fabric remembering to keep even spaces between the stitches. Use double strands of thread to add strength.



2) Slip stitch:

Is nothing but closing together two pieces of fabric as neatly as possible with as little amount of thread being visible. In order to do that you need to bring the threaded needle out from the inside of one edge of the fabric you are closing that is if you are closing the mouth of a pillow case you bring it from inside (the opening or the edge your are closing) to the outside seam line and now you have the needle on the seam facing the front.

Insert the threaded needle from outside on the opposite seam line (edge) taking care to be as close to the other seam as possible and draw the thread taut.

Repeat the next stitch of bringing the needle from inside seam to the outside seam.

Take fine stitches and always draw the thread taut. If you are right handed work from right to left; and vice versa.

Repeat until you have closed the opening. Then stitch at least two or three secure stitches to finish.

3) Secure stitch:

Every time you hand stitch you need to secure your stitch at the end of your work by sewing a knot with a needle. Regardless of your stitch be it slip stitching Hem stitch running or basting stitch all thread work must be finished with the secure stitch.

To tie a knot, just as you near the end of your hand stitching take the needle out of the fabric and insert it through the fabric so you can see both the ends of the needle but a bit of the needle is covered by the fabric, now take the thread which is hanging out of the needle and loop it around the front end of the needle.

You can loop it once or max twice to give a smooth finish and pull the needle out.

Repeat the stitches for a couple times and you would have the thread firmly secured.



4) Hem stitch

Fasten the thread to the hem allowance by poking the needle through the fold of the hem edge and bringing it up through the fabric.

With the point of the needle pick up one thread from the garment and work the needle back into the fold of the hem edge. Then repeat the process. This is more like a slip stitch.

You can also stitch the hem from inside the garment and take care that the stitches don't show on the right side of the garment. This means you stitch normally from inside but when you pull the needle out through the right side of the garment you put the needle very close back to where you have pulled out the needle so the thread is hardly visible from outside and the stitch is a very tiny one from the right side of the garment.

Express yourself!

Jini Pinto

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How to sew a tea cozy? Video Tutorial

The above is the beginning of my video tutorial. I have video tutorials on how to sew a tea cozy and other projects as well.

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Express yourself

Jini
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