How to Sew by Hand
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How to Sew by Hand
Sewing - Threading the Needle
Sewing - The Running Stitch
Sewing - The Back Stitch
Sewing - The Whip Stitch
Sewing - The Slip Stitch
Sewing - The Catch Stitch
Sewing - The Button Hole Stitch
Sewing on Shirt Buttons
Sewing on Shank Buttons
Sewing on Snaps
Sewing on Hook and Eyes
Sewing on Pants Hook and Eyes
Dawn began sewing when she was 5 years old and it has since become a lifelong pursuit. Dawn earned a B.A. from Shenandoah University and an M.F.A. from Indiana University, both in Theatre Costume Design. During graduate school she had the opportunity to study in England at Bournemouth University where she focused on corsetry techniques, traditional hand tailoring, and fashion history. During college she worked as a costume designer and patternmaker for theatre and dance, making custom clothing for performers, specialty garments, historic reproductions, corsetry, millinery, and taught basic to advanced sewing classes. After college, she went to work as a free-lance designer and cutter in Edinburgh, Scotland. She returned to the US and began her small ready to wear line and sewing pattern company in Washington DC and Northern Virginia. She currently sells sewing patterns for clothing and hats on her website and at tradeshows. She hand makes men's custom jackets and is expanding her women's ready to wear lines. Dawn currently teaches couture sewing and hat making at sewing conventions, local stores, and in her home in Northern Virginia. She is a member of the American Sewing Guild and leads her own group dedicated to Couture Sewing. Dawn has begun writing for sewing magazines and is working on a book on tailoring. She has also started filming sewing instruction videos and hopes to one day have her own TV show on sewing. Please feel free to visit her website for more information.
How to Sew by Hand
Sewing expert Dawn Anderson demonstrates how to sew by hand.
Transcripts
Hello, my name is Dawn Anderson and my company is Dawn Anderson Designs. I have a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from Indiana University, specializing in Theater Costume Design, Traditional Hand Tailoring and Pattern Making. I have worked as a freelance designer, tailor, milliner, and sewing instructor for 14 years. My company is located in Northern Virginia and also online.
Today I would like to show you how to sew by hand. Hand sewing is a great skill to learn for all sewing levels, from beautiful couture quality handmade garments, to everyday mending. I would like to show you six basic hand sewing stitches, from the running stitch to the catch stitch, as well as how to sew on buttons, snaps, and hook eyes. You will only need a few very basic simple tools to get started; some all-purpose sewing thread, scissors, a hand sewing needle, pincushion, thimble, and straight pins, as well as some scrap fabric.
Please keep in mind sewing room safety. Always use a pincushion for your needles and straight pins, and never sew with a rusty needle, it will stain your fabric and could be dangerous if you stab yourself. Remember, scissors are sharp and always supervise young children while sewing. Let's get started with some hand sewing stitches.
Creating No-Sew Side Seams and Hem
How to Sew a Button with a Shank
How to Make No-Sew Window Treatments
Christmas Tree Skirt - Sewing the Center Hole and Slit
Christmas Tree Skirt - Adding the Final Stitches
Sewing the Tablecloth
Simple Sewing Basics
How to Use a Sewing Machine
How to Thread a Sewing Machine











Excellent videos! by sewbear at 11/22/10 06:54PM Flag
I tried to explain a stitch to my daughter via telephone but she didn't quite understand. Found this video, emailed her the link...and viola, she is now finishing a pillow! Best explanation on the web!
Thanks! by bug at 11/19/09 04:07PM Flag
There is a lot of technique that is missed when learning from a book. This was very helpful.
Great Information by Planet at 02/18/08 11:28PM Flag
This is fantastic. For years I have searched for a good reference for hand stitching. None of the written explanations made much sense to me, but seeing someone actually do it has simplified this mysterious process for me. Thank you so much.
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