Hand sewing

[robv60]

Is there a write up somewhere on hand sewing? I did a search but didnt see anything. I cant afford a sewing machine but I really need some tieouts on my tarp ridge ends. It seems that no one I know around here has a sewing machine!

[Fish<><]

Wish I could help you in a few easy steps so here goes my best shot:

When you get everything where you want it, make the first pass and tie a knot. That way nothing pulls all the way throughas you make the first few stitches. Be very patient. Once you get to the end, tie another knot and trim the excess.

On a side note, my hand stitching doesn't look professional but it works...

[gmcttr]

Well, I tried to add links but the site is screwed this morning. Google "How to hand stitch".

Good info here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJUL3tu-Fec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=dgDzhXrIt6s#!

Thread a hand needle, double the thread over and tie a knot. Run the needle through the tie out/fabric, pull the thread all the way through, back up, back down, tie off. Use short stitches. A thimble is a big help for pushing the needle through heavy materials.

edit...I guess it is hyperlinking.

[robv60]

Thats very helpful, thank you. I wonder which would be the best stitch to use? Backstitch or straight/running stitch. Seems back stitch would be stronger.

[Ramblinrev]

Hand stitching is an art form as much as anything else. There are a myriad of stitches designed for different uses. Your best bet is one of two things... Best would be find some sewing bee somewhere that will take you in under their wing or get a book or web/vid that will give you guidance.

IMO you do not need to fold the thread in two and knot the ends together. If you do that you shorten the distance you can stitch before you need to rethread. Leave it one ply and have more length. You need to remember to clinch the thread while tightening or you will pull the thread out of the needle. It's six of one/half dozen of the other. Find which one works better for you.

[gmcttr]

Thats very helpful, thank you. I wonder which would be the best stitch to use? ...

(Disclaimer...I don't really know) I tend to use the running stitch for the type of application you have asked about and "reverse" back over the line to fill in the gaps. In reality, this doesn't add any more than another row of stitching.

For a tie out, I would just sew a standard box pattern with an X in it. Short stitches = more stitches = good.

[BIG JEFF]

The back stitch is the way to go if done right it looks like a machine stitch and is stronger than a running stich

[robv60]

Thanks everyone. I bought some green gutterman sew all from Joanns today so I could see my stitches on the black webbing. My eyes aere getting to bad for black on black. I also got a sewing needle set. We only had one here at home and its kind of thick. It was the "embroidery" set that stated the needles were the same as sharps but with longer eyes. What size needle would you all recommend I use?

[gmcttr]

My thought is that thinner will be easier to push through webbing and longer will be easier to get a grip on to pull out from the other side.

[Ramblinrev]

It was the "embroidery" set that stated the needles were the same as sharps but with longer eyes. What size needle would you all recommend I use?

Embroidery needles are intended for needle work and other fine decorative stitch
work. They are very slender with the elongated eye. Their primary use is with floss rather than thread. Floss is flat and multi stranded whereas thread is rounder and much harder to separate into smaller strands. You may find your self struggling to use embroidery needles on things like webbing. They are not intended for heavy duty use. You may find them bending under the stress of the heavy weight material. On the other hand, you may not have a problem at all. Once again, there are no set "rules" about what needles to use. Use what works for you.