Nicole Vasbinder - Super Stitches Sewing: A Complete Guide to Machine-Sewing and Hand-Stitching Techniques

I have been sewing for about 30 years and consider myself a fairly advanced seamstress. But like many sewers, most of my sewing uses just a few of the basic stitches on my sewing machine. I assumed all those other stitches were decorative and my machine manual did not have much information on how to use them. As I researched, I discovered that each of the stitches has a specific purpose and makes certain sewing tasks easier and faster.

Some of them replicate the look of hand stitching at the press of a button! I also began to explore hand stitching. Learning couture techniques that cannot be accomplished on a machine and mastering hand techniques allowed me to sew on the go. This book is a complete and illustrated guide to machine and hand stitches for the modern sewist and is designed to be an ideal worktop companion. Whats the best stitch to hand-set a zipper? When should you use a diagonal basting stitch? What are the various uses of a blind hem stitch? Whether sewing clothes from patterns, designing your own sewing projects, or executing simple repairs, this book is a comprehensive and ready reference consolidating all the most useful and practical information you need to choose and use every kind of sewing stitch. Following a simple entry-based format, each stitch entry shows a photographed example of the stitch on fabric followed by illustrated tutorials of how to execute the stitch. Essential facts for each stitch are listed in an easy-to-read bullet list and cover everything from alternative names for that stitch, the best fabric types, common uses of a particular stitch, substitute stitches, and threads and needles that might be specific to that stitch.

In addition, each entry has practical hints and tips to improve your sewing, as well as a symbol indicating the level of difficulty (). Section One covers 50 of the most useful machine stitches. Using these stitches is contingent on that stitch being available on your sewing machine. If it isnt, would you know what would make an appropriate replacement? This section explains the purpose of each stitch and offers suggestions for other stitches that can be used instead. Section Two is devoted to hand stitching and explores the stitches every sewist should know how to do as well as a few special tricks. Section Three covers mechanical, computerized, and vintage sewing machines as well as the needles, threads, and presser feet needed to accomplish all these stitches.

Whether youre just starting out with your first sewing machine or have been sewing for a while and want to build on your skills, this book gives you practical advice and tips to master techniques you didnt think you could do. I sincerely hope that this book becomes an inspiring part of your sewing library and pushes you to a new level of creativity and confidence. Happy sewing!

Some sewing machines have just a few utility stitches while others come equipped with many, utility and decorative. In this section well go through all the common stitches as well as some more unusual ones, and discuss what their purposes are and how to use them. Well also discuss the ideal threads, presser feet, and fabrics to use with each stitch, and what you can use as a substitute if your machine does not have a particular stitch. This is the most basic and frequently used stitch.

It is available on all sewing machines and looks like a dashed line. It is the essential construction stitch used to connect two pieces of fabric and is used for sewing seams, darts, and hems. It is also used for topstitching, basting, and installing zippers. The standard length for basic sewing is 2.5mm or 11 stitches per inch. Longer lengths are used for temporary basting and shorter lengths for strong securing stitches.