I NVENTO RY
21. Stitching Tools
Sewing is a sensory experience. Following
instructions that are provided in a book, a video,
or a live demonstration is a start, but there
is no substitute for experience, and lots of it,
when it comes to stitching a garment together.
Easing the cap of a sleeve into an armhole is
definitely easier said than done. Only repetition
will provide the experience needed to handle
the fabric expertly, select the proper thread, and
understand how to control and maximize the
tools you are working with. Nothing is perfect,
but practice certainly gets you close.
There are many choices when it comes to what
type of stitch to use for any given job, and each
can be executed by hand or on a machine:
- Loose single-thread stitches for basting
- Blanket or overlock stitches to finish an edge
- Pad stitching to secure layers of fabric together
- Back stitches or tacking to reinforce areas
- Zigzag or top stitching to decorate the surface
- Chain, cross, or satin stitches for embroidery
- Buttonhole stitches to finish and reinforce the
opening for a button closure
- Blind stitches for hemming
In every case, a light, seemingly effortless touch
is the mark of the professional.
48 Fashion Design Essentials
Above Left: Hand sewing
Above Right: Machine
sewing
Right: Basting samples
Far Right: Hand basting
