{"id":157,"date":"2008-08-10T22:49:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-10T22:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/blog\/2008\/08\/blindstitch-and-catchstitch\/"},"modified":"2016-09-06T09:47:01","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T13:47:01","slug":"blindstitch-and-catchstitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2008\/08\/blindstitch-and-catchstitch.html","title":{"rendered":"blindstitch and catchstitch"},"content":{"rendered":"

I mentioned in last week’s hem facing tutorial that I like to use a blindstitch for nearly invisible hems. It’s an easy stitch to do and looks neat from the inside of the garment as well as the outside.<\/p>\n

\"Blindstitch<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is a simple demonstration, if you’d like to try it yourself:<\/p>\n

1. Use a single strand of knotted thread and a hand needle. If your thread has a tendancy to twist and knot on itself, you might try drawing it through a little beeswax or Thread Heaven before you start.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n2. Unfold the pressed hem and hide your thread knot in the fold of the hem (or hem facing). Then re-fold the hem and pin it in place while you stitch.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> red fabric = hem facing; floral fabric = dress skirt<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Working from right to left with your needle pointing to the left (or vice versa if you\u2019re left-handed) and keeping your stitches loose and very small, roll the hem edge back about 1\/4″, and take a small stitch in the garment fabric. Catch just a few threads in the stitch so it won’t show much from the outside of the garment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n4. Then take a tiny stitch in the hem or hem facing about 3\/8″ to the left. Take another small stitch in the garment 3\/8″ to the left, and continue alternating stitching between the hem and garment fabric, producing a series of small v\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n5. When you’re finished, your stitches should be nearly invisible from the right side. If you look very closely, you may be able to see the tiny stitches like mine, below. If you use a thread that matches your garment, these stitches will be almost impossible to see.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nMy other favorite stitch for hemming is the catchstitch, which is very similar to the blindstitch except that instead of working toward the left, work toward the right with the needles still pointing to the left.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> The result will be a series of X’s. Leave your stitches a little loose when hemming with the catchstitch. The advantage of the catchstitch is that the thread is unlikely to break if it gets a little tug; the X of the stitches gives the thread a bit of elasticity, which is especially great for children’s clothing, pant legs, or anything that might see some extra wear and tear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I mentioned in last week’s hem facing tutorial that I like to use a blindstitch for nearly invisible hems. It’s an easy stitch to do and looks neat from the inside of the garment as well as the outside. Here …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":53279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[41,34,140],"class_list":["post-157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-hand-stitches","tag-hems","tag-tutorial"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/blindstitchT.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-2x","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61709,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/06\/fourteen-hem-tutorials.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":0},"title":"fourteen hem tutorials","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"June 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There are several ways to sew a hem depending on what you want the finished look to appear like. Let me introduce you to fourteen hem tutorials that have appeared on the blog in the past. You're sure to find just the hem finishing technique you need here!","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/hemsF.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6595,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2013\/05\/tool-tuesday-thread-snips.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":1},"title":"tool tuesday: thread snips","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"May 7, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I always try to keep a pair or two of these thread snips handy. They make quick work of clipping thread tails from your seams or for removing any dangling threads from a project.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/thread-snips.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":70100,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2019\/06\/sewing-small-talk-serger-thread.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":2},"title":"sewing small talk: serger thread","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"June 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's talk serger thread today. Do you match your serger thread to your fabric?","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/sewing-small-talk-feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55019,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2016\/06\/quick-sewing-tip-selecting-thread-color.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":3},"title":"quick sewing tip: selecting thread color","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"June 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In today's Quick Sewing Tip, Liesl shows a simple way to select the best color thread for your sewing project.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/thread-color.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1596,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2010\/09\/thread-chain-tutorial.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":4},"title":"making a thread chain","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"September 14, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's a simple step-by-step guide to making a thread chain closure for your dress or top.","rel":"","context":"In "tutorials"","block_context":{"text":"tutorials","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/tutorials"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/threadchainT.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9818,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2014\/01\/ask-me-this-week-on-thread-cult.html","url_meta":{"origin":157,"position":5},"title":"ask me: this week on thread cult","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"January 31, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Listen to Liesl's interview on the Thread Cult podcast about sewing children's clothing and women's clothing, fabric design, inspiration, etc.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/ask-me3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57187,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157\/revisions\/57187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}