Easy Steps and Safety Practices in Sewing

Before one becomes skillful in sewing, one has to learn the basics of hand sewing. Hand sewing involves the use of thread and needle and the use of the hand to create stitches on cloth.

Threading the needle . Hold the needle firmly between thumb and the next finger. Hold the needle in front of you at eye level. See to it that holes of needle can be seen against the light for easier threading. Cut the end of the thread in a slanting direction using a sharp scissors. Hold the thread, at least one centimeter from its sharp end between the thumb and the next finger pointing to the hole of the needle. Push the thread into the eye of the needle. Catch the end of the thread on the other side of the needle. Pull the thread until it reaches the elbow of your arm and then cut.

Remember also that for a single thread, one end is about six inches from the hole of the needle and the other thread the length of your elbow. For a double thread, pull both ends of the thread together so that they will be of the same length.

Making a knot at the end of the thread . Hold the end of the thread between the thumb and the next finger. Hold the top end of the thread and wind the thread around the finger about two or three times making a loop. Then crossover the end of the thread on the loop. Pull the loop off the end of your finger until it forms a knot.

Practice stitching on pieces of cloth. Learn how to move the needle in and out the cloth many times until you develop the skill in doing it.

Safety practices in hand sewing includes .

a. Have the light come from your left shoulder (if right handed).

b. Prevent sunlight from falling directly over your work especially if white cloth is being sewn. White cloth reflects light. Light makes the eyes tire easily.

c. Don't face a bright light nor work under a dim light. It is not good for the eyes.

d. Sit squarely and erect, with back well supported.

e. Avoid putting pins or needle in your mouth. This is dangerous as you might swallow them by accident.

f. Use a thimble when doing hand sewing.

g. In handing over to another person sharp pointed articles like scissors, hold the blunt side firmly close to your hand and hand over the handles first.

h. Wash your hands before starting to sew whether you will sew by hand or by machine. This keeps the cloth clean always.

i. Cut threads with scissors, not with the teeth.

j. Pick up scraps of cloth and thread on the floor and throw them into the waste can.

k. Fold you work neatly before keeping it.

l. Arrange sewing tools in your sewing box neatly and keep box in a cabinet.

m. Clean the sewing area after finishing your work.