Basting Stitch

Use the same technique as the running stitch, but make longer stitches (between 1/4
inch and a 1/2 inch).
Today, we tend to pin baste more than hand baste our garments and projects, but hand
basting can still be useful, especially with both lightweight (silk and chiffon) and
heavyweight (leather and Melton) wools.

Catch stitch (Cross-Stitch)

You can use this stitch to to finish hems with fabric that doesn’t fray, and to tack facing
invisibly.
Working from left to right, take tiny stitches on the hem, and then on the garment. Keep
the stitches loose and even. They will appear as crosses on the wrong side and small
stitches on the right.

Overcast Stitch

The hand overcast seam finish is used as an alternative to the zigzag stitch in small
areas or on very thick fabrics.
Taking very loose stitches, overcast the raw seam edges by hand.

Blind Hem Stitch

This sewing machine stitch consists of two or three straight stitches, and then one wide
zigzag / catch stitch. Just as in the hand-stitched version of the blind hem, the fabric is
folded under and away with the hem edge just projecting. The stitches show as a small
dot on the right side.
There is a special machine foot that keeps the fabric folded away. This technique
requires a lot of practice, and I recommend learning on lots of scrap fabric.
Once mastered, the blind hem stitch makes quick work of hemming pants and skirts.

Outline Stitch

With the outline stitch, the thread is taken forward on the surface of the cloth, then taken
to the back and moved backwards and up again next to the thread on the surface.
The thread and needle are then again moved forward, so creating a series of
overlapping stitches. Outline stitch is very similar to stem stitch, but the difference is that
the working thread lies above the needle, while in stem stitch it is always below. The
resulting line of stitching twists in a direction (S-direction) opposite to the stem stitch (Z-
direction).

Running Stitch

The running stitch or straight stitch is the basic stitch in hand-sewing and embroidery,
on which all other forms of sewing are based. The stitch is worked by passing the
needle in and out of the fabric.
Blanket Stitch (Buttonhole Stitch)

If you want to sew eyelets or buttonholes by hand, learn the buttonhole stitch.
Secure the thread on the wrong side of the fabric, then with the right side facing upward,
insert the needle from back to front through the fabric 1/8 inch from the edge. Wrap the
working head around behind the eye end of the needle, then behind the point. Pull the
needle through, bringing the knot to the fabric edge. Continue, making closely spaced
stitches and knot.
The eyelet version is worked in a circle, with the wrapped edge to the inside; the
blanket stitch variation has at least a 1/4 inch spacing between stitches.
Basting Stitch

The basting stitch, also known as tacking, can be defined as a long running stitch
mainly used to temporarily hold two or more layers of fabric together until they can be
properly sewn with a permanent stitch.

Chain stitch is a sewing and embroidery technique in which a series of looped stitches
form a chain-like pattern.[1] Chain stitch is an ancient craft – examples of
surviving Chinese chain stitch embroidery worked in silk thread have been dated to
the Warring States period (5th – 3rd century BC).[2] Handmade chain stitch embroidery
does not require that the needle pass through more than one layer of fabric. For this
reason the stitch is an effective surface embellishment near seams on finished fabric.
Because chain stitches can form flowing, curved lines, they are used in many surface
embroidery styles that mimic "drawing" in thread.

Slip Stitch

The slip stitch is the shortest of all crochet stitches and is really more a technique than a
stitch. Slip stitches are usually used to move yarn across a group of stitches without
adding height, or they may be used to join work when working in rounds.

A slip stitch or catch stitch can be used to create the blind stitch, except that they are
worked inside the hem, 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch (3.2 to 6.4 mm) away from the edge of the hem
fabric.

Backstitch

Back stitch and its variants stem stitch, outline stitch and split stitch are a class
of embroidery and sewing stitches in which individual stitches are made backward to the
general direction of sewing. In embroidery, these stitches form lines and are most often
used to outline shapes and to add fine detail to an embroidered picture. It is used as a
hand-sewing utility stitch to attach definitively and strongly two pieces of fabric together.
It is also used for writing.

Uneven Basting

A less precise hand stitch, uneven basting is used to mark fabric or to temporarily
hold fabric layers that do not require close control, such as along straight seams. Take
several 1/4" (6 mm) stitches onto the needle, but leave about 1" (2.5 cm) between the
stitches (3).
 Prepared by:

ROSIE V. VALENCIA